"But how can we cafe notte when it is cafe mattina?" My husband asks. It's before noon and I suggest we plan to go to dinner and try cafe notte. He thinks he's funny calling out that it's still morning. Cafe notte has good specials and good food. The staff is consistently friendly. We can immediately tell there's a number of regulars as everyone seems familiar with each other. Live music was really relaxing and for once I can genuinely say it was at a good volume (I think I'm aging). The restaurant has recently been remodeled. Still, it has the star-lit ceiling in the bar and the women's bathroom has an odd step up. The patio is directly on 65 which can be a bit noisy. I would suggest to pick a day to come here when you would prefer to sit inside! read more

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I got the roasted root vegetable (salad) and it was fresh and balanced with the vinaigrette! We also had fried zucchini with the lemon aioli sauce and wow that sauce was so good! read more

I met a friend for dinner this past weekend and we had a really great experience. We shared the arancini which was fantastic and I had the chicken Milanese with mashed potatoes which was great. My friend had the shrimp special and he really enjoyed his. We finished the night with the tiramisu which was absolutely wonderful. I sometimes forget to check this place out because it is easy to drive by it quickly on Ohio River Blvd but make sure to reservation and check it out! read more

The food was excellent. Service was odd. It started out great, but dinner took 2.5 hours. We were with a large group, but we had preordered apps, then she just took the soup and salad order. Then the main order. Initially, she dinked drinks. Then it seemed she forgot about us. I would have ordered another alcoholic beverage, but wasn't given the chance. I had to practically beg for kite water after I'd finished mine and my partner's. Tho everyone who got dessert but one person got it to go, she disappeared again for ages and didn't bring the checks. We had to go find her to ask for those too. Our party was large, but there were only 2, then later 3 people at a table in the bar. Should have been that difficult to get decent service. They were also out of a lot of menu items. My one friend ordered the last veal, so another gig something else. The friend who supposedly got the last veal was served chicken parm instead. Pretty odd for a Thursday night. I'll definitely return and hope for better service then. read more

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We went to Cafe Notte for date night. We started our meals with Sangria and Aracini appetizer. The Aracini had decent flavor and I enjoyed the lemon aioli, however we felt they were slightly cold. For our entrees, I had a salmon special with a creamy parmesan orzo. The salmon was overcooked but the orzo was wonderful. My boyfriend got the Cavetelli Arrabiatta with grilled chicken. The grilled chicken had no flavor but the pasta was fine. It could have been more al dente. We ended the meal with dessert. My boyfriend got the chocolate mousse and it was the BEST i've ever had. I am still thinking about it. I got the Tiramisu but wouldn't again. It wasn't anything to write home about and lacked something. The server was attentive and the ambiance is nice. We would go back but only for dessert and a cocktail. read more

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4.5 stars for the new and improved Cafe Notte! I enjoyed a really nice meal here recently and was very impressed. In my 26 years living in Pittsburgh, I've never tried this spot, despite driving past it ALL the time. They recently underwent a renovation and a "rebirth" of sorts, following their participation in a restaurant reality show that shall not be named. The new tables and renovated rooms look really nice and give a cozy but elegant ambiance. Our server was really friendly and attentive, despite seemingly being one of the only servers working on a Thursday evening. My friends and I all tried various pasta and seafood dishes as entrees, and we split a few yummy apps. I also had a great dirty martini! The arancini was extremely good, though not vegetarian with the inclusion of italian sausage, so one of my friends could not enjoy it, sadly. The fried zucchini and brussels sprouts apps were very unique and distinct from one another, and we all enjoyed them both! My orecchiette with sausage and broccoli rabe was extremely tasty and generous in portion size. My one suggestion would have been to include more of a visible sauce, because while the white wine butter sauce was delicious, the noodles didn't LOOK sauced. Perhaps more parmesan cheese, cracked pepper, chili flakes, or some broth would help? My friends tried other pasta varieties, and everyone enjoyed their meal! The two gentle suggestions I have are these: service could stand to be a little quicker (there was about 45 minutes of wait time between when we gave appetizer orders to when we gave entree orders), and perhaps a change of dining chairs in the larger dining room. I am a curvier woman and I struggled to sit comfortably in the these updated modern chairs due to the wooden arms and lack of seat width. They look beautiful, but not the most comfy for a leisurely meal! Still, these won't stop me from returning soon for a very tasty Italian dinner. Hats off to Cafe Notte for a really lovely time! read more

Cafe Notte - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I was here for a high school reunion a few weeks ago. At first glance everything seemed fine. I had heard from my friend that the planning had been a little difficult with communication, but everything looked great when we got there. I used my first drink token on a glass of very cheap wine, oh well. I enjoyed most of the evening catching up and reconnecting with classmates. I Tried one of the chicken skewers, the marinade was nice, but I thought the purpose of a skewer is finger food. Well, the sauce was baked on the wood and my fingers were all sticky after. Also the chicken was not great, hit had several pieces of gristle I had to spit out, so I didn't try anything else. Our event was scheduled for 4 hours, we paid extra to have the last hour and that's when the problems started. I saw the woman in charge basically toss a bunch of leftover containers and tell my friend she could pack up anything she wanted. Weird, as I would have thought the restaurant would do that. Then with half an hour to go, the owner turned off the A/C in the room, it was a very hot weekend in June. And, the A/C unit was high on the wall, so this wasn't an easy switch off. Also at that time, they closed the bar, NO more drinks, including the coffee we paid for. I heard they were upset about someone placing an empty beer bottle on the piano. This isn't good, however if you are actually trying to protect your piano, you should invest in a cover for when it is not used. Playing the piano myself, I know dust is also not a piano's friend. As I was leaving, I was greeted by a cloud of cigar smoke from the owner sitting right outside. He obviously didn't want us there. Don't worry, I doubt anyone in our group of 60 people will be back I heard Gordon Ramsay was there before we came and that's why they are closed now - for a new reopening. Well, he should certainly go back because the only thing nice is decor right now. read more

Cafe Notte: A Glowing Glow-Up on Route 65 Listen. I've driven past Cafe Notte on Route 65 more times than I can count. It's one of those places you mean to stop at, but life and traffic and dinner indecision get in the way. Well. No more. They've remodeled, and it's not just a fresh coat of paint. It's a full-blown glow-up. Sleek, modern, and somehow still warm and inviting. It feels like the kind of place you stumble into in a bigger city and immediately make a mental note to come back with everyone you love. The menu? One page. Which, let's be real, is a bold move in a world of twelve-page marathons. But they nailed the assignment. Every dish feels intentional, unfussy, and deeply craveable. Let's start with the mussels. Fresh, tender, and bathing in a broth so good I considered asking for a straw. Or a ladle. I settled for shamelessly dunking bread until the bowl was dry. The orecchiette with broccoli rabe was the kind of pasta dish that ruins you for all others. Just the right bite to the pasta, bitter greens, a garlicky kiss of oil. Perfection. And the Caprese salad? Don't even talk to me about sad, soggy Caprese. This was the opposite. The mozzarella was fresh and pillowy, the tomatoes ripe, the basil generous. A bite of summer in every forkful. Dessert was a surprise standout. An orange-scented cake with a hint of salt on top. That little hit of salt was genius. It cut the sweetness and made the citrus pop. We all went quiet when we ate it, which is always the mark of a great dish. Service was impeccable. Attentive without hovering. Friendly without trying too hard. Bottom line: I'll be stopping by much more often. And when I'm not, I'll be thinking about those mussels, that cake, and trying to figure out how soon I can justify going back. Take your family. Take your date. Heck, take yourself. Just go. read more

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Beautiful hidden gem in Pittsburgh !! Have gone multiple times and every time it's been a knockout. The owners are gems. Wife is a hostess and husband is chef who spent years in Italy working on his dishes. He comes out and talks to everyone each time. Always made a reservation because it's typically packed but wait time isn't long Not a big lasagna guy but they have a weekly lasagna and if it's ever the seafood I can't recommend it enough !! The gluten free pizza crust and pastas are in outstanding. I have friends who are celiac so I always try to find spots for them. Def have to try these. Best gluten free noodle I've ever had read more

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We ate at Café Notte tonight and were really impressed with the updates they've made. The place recently went through some renovations and rolled out a new menu, and you can tell a lot of thought went into both. The decor is beautiful--warm, inviting, and the new tables and chairs are both elegant and super comfortable. The food was definitely the highlight. We started with the arancini and the fried zucchini--both were fantastic. The zucchini came with a lemon aioli that I could've eaten by the spoonful, and the arancini was perfectly crispy on the outside and packed with flavorful sausage and risotto on the inside. For dinner, we had the chicken Milanese and the aglio e olio. The chicken was fried just right--crispy but not greasy--with a bright lemon sauce, capers, and garlic that pulled everything together. The aglio e olio was simple in the best way--lots of fresh garlic and just the right amount of cheese. What really stood out, though, was the attention to detail and care from the staff. The chef/owner came out before we ordered to introduce himself and walk us through the menu, and then stopped back afterward to make sure we enjoyed everything. You can tell he takes a lot of pride in the food and the experience--he even mentioned that everything is made fresh daily with farm-to-table ingredients, and it shows. Our server was great too--super friendly, attentive, and had some great recommendations. If you've been to Café Notte before, it's definitely worth a return visit to see the new space and try the new menu. We'll definitely be back again soon read more

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This is a spot I've wanted to try for a long time since moving to the nearby area. Driven by it for so long and glad to have finally gotten here Incredible food, great service. Can't wait to try more of those home recipes menu. read more

This is one of the most welcoming restaurants in the city. The staff is always warm and friendly. The decor is quaint and very comfortable. The Italian fair completes this experience with some classic dishes. (Try the Orecchiette) read more

We went back after the relaunch & it was night & day. We ordered the fried zucchini & the Orecchiette with Italian Sausage & Broccoli Rabe. Both were great! The space looks nice & the staff were friendly. We will be back. read more

We noticed we were the youngest ones here! Seemed to be an older crowd but respect your elders because this spot was bangin'! Hibiscus cocktail and old fashion were delicious! The pasta fra diavolo was heavenly and plenty for leftovers! read more

We sat on the lovely patio for three hours enjoying our zucchini appetizer, pasta, risotto, tiramisu, and prosecco! Our server made great suggestions and let us sit leisurely on the patio for as long as we liked. Will definitely go back! read more

This place has been on my list for awhile. After seeing them featured on Pittsburgh Today Live, we finally made a reservation. We went a few weeks ago on a snowy Friday night. When we got there, we requested to sit in the bar area. It was so cozy with a fireplace going. We started with the homemade bread, which is complimentary and came with a delicious dipping oil. We also had the fired zucchini and the beans and greens. They were both tasty but the greens and beans were out of this world delicious - they had a lemony flavor, so different but so good. I had the shrimp scampi. The shrimp were cooked to perfection and the pasta was so good. My husband had the eggplant parm and requested it with rigatoni with the vodka sauce, he said it was incredible. He also ordered the limoncello martini and loved it. My mom was with us and she has the pasta aglio e olio, she said it was some of the best she's ever had. For dessert we shared the bread pudding at the recommendation of our server, it was fantastic. The dessert line up was so good, I have to go back to try more! Our server was wonderful, kind, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. We really enjoyed it and will definitely be going back! We shared the read more

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Food was good. Signature pasta dish had too much sauce not enough pasta. It was like pasta tomato soup. Their marinara is not too sweet, which we liked. Chicken parmesan was overcooked but well beaten. Negronis were nice. Bar does not have Mezcal, so he couldn't embellish the "Draco" with it, but was going to revamp his recipes he said. Menu was fairly simple, which was refreshing. Many italian places have a bajillion offerings (like Falsetti's) but not quality. This place was quality. Will try it again sometime with family (and reservations). Very busy. Had to sit at bar. She was fully booked otherwise. At 6:30pm on a Saturday night the bar was empty, but the bar area was full. Overheard Tuesdays and Wednesdays are fairly empty times for the restaurant. All in all a good experience with italian food that didn't taste like ketchup. read more

5/5 stars Stopped in late and had an amazing dinner! Cute aesthetic, astrological/constellation theme, with stars on the ceiling (in a cute way not cheesy) Super friendly staff, and I got the French dip special sandwich, which was unbelievable. My husband got the vodka pasta sauce, which is also very good :) read more

Cafe Notte - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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We called to reserve an outdoor table on a Thursday and when we got there just due to the position of the sun setting, we elected to dine indoors, which the staff was very courteous and happy to relocate us. Also, outside they had a live performer setting up, but they said we could still listen from inside. Upon entry, we made a right to the bar and dinning area. The ceiling is high and had very nice lighting. Our waiter was very attentive. Drinks came out perfect and strong. I played it safe and went with the chicken parm, which was delicious. Kids ordered the pizza which was a pretty big serving size for them, they weren't fond of the crust or sauce. Definitely a place we would have no issues with coming back to if in the area again! read more

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I have been to cafe notte many times but my most recent experience was the best yet! the new menu is amazing and the renovations are beautiful! we had a party of 15 and Debbie made the entire experience very easy! She was helpful, followed up with reservation information, and was extremely hospitable while we were there. Can't wait to come back! read more

Charming little restaurant for sure. Finally got to give it a try before a ball game. Service was friendly and tentative. We ordered the mussels which were good not great. Some were very strong. I guess i should start by giving my reason for my rating. My hubby was not a fan at all and really didn't enjoy what he ordered. Which was veal and pepper over pasta with aïoli sauce. He said it had no flavor and drowned it with salt and pepper. He also didn't care for their offering of bread. He has a tendency to be sensitive to particular seasonings. I one the other hand throughly enjoyed mine. I had the rigatoni vodka sauce with chicken and it was delicious. I also enjoyed the bread with the balsamic oil for dipping. It was something different than what you might find in other places. I do recommend what I had. However, it probably won't be a place we will ever go out of our way to try again. read more

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If you are thinking about having an event or group gathering here, let me save you a lot of time, money and aggravation- FORGET IT, GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. We had booked the place (well in advance) for a class reunion. It cost about $55-$60/person - which included 2 drinks and "heavy appetizers" and a valet. (This guy earned them the second star- poor kid) From the moment we walked into the building, we were told "c'mon shut the door you're letting the air conditioning out!" (This was foreshadowing-- read on...) We get inside and a small bar for 60+ people has two frazzled servers running around frantically. They were not giving off a good vibe. They were snippy with each other, their boss and us. We were all confined to one room -while the main bar and another adjoining room was blocked off. The other owner, wife of the first dude, freaked out because a bottle was on the piano while we got a photo taken. Like, unhinged. Cover your piano, lady. You're jamming dozens of people in one small place with not enough tables and chairs for everyone. I bet that piano is just like them btw-- out of tune. The FOOD- there were Costco like sticky Thai-ish chicken skewers that were chewy, hummus, meatballs, day old buns, and a mozzarella and tomato salad. This is weird. And it was all MEH. In spite of the tense service and rude owners, we were all catching up and enjoying each other's company. Then in the last hour it got hot. LIKE THIS WEEK CORN SWEAT HOT. After charging us for an extra "Venetian Hour" $200- they shut the precious AC OFF 35 minutes early!! (And the music, and did not put even coffee out, but it probably would have been lousy any way) AND as we left the owner sat outside blowing his cigar smoke, which hung in the hot humid night like his disdain for even being there. Spend your $$ somewhere else, unless you like mediocrity and being treated like a jag off. read more

Wanted a spot to enjoy a couple late afternoon cocktails that evolved into a delicious early dinner. Very good Italian meals!

Not sure if we got unlucky or not but took my girlfriend here for her 25th birthday. Food was honestly cold, both of our pasta dishes and meatballs were not right at all. I like my pasta Al dente but it was seriously chewy. Willing to try it again sometime but was not enjoyable for such a special occasion. read more

Our first time dining at Cafe Notte and it was a great experience. All of the staff were so nice and welcoming and the place was very charming. It was my husband's birthday and we had our 2 kids (9 and 11) so I needed to find a place to meet that criteria. He was craving a good chicken Parmesan. I usually use open table to find/book reservations but we had no luck so I googled best Italian restaurants in Pittsburgh. I'm glad we found this spot and bonus that they offered a kids menu. Our older son ordered the focaccia oven cheese pizza and he loved it! Our youngest stuck with the kids menu pizza and raved about it and the super long cheese pull. I ordered the lobster/crab Alfredo with their handmade pappardelle and hubs ordered the chicken parm. We tasted everything and loved it all. The service was super quick, too. We will definitely be back to try more of their dishes! read more

An okay spot on Ohio River Blvd near Emsworth. I have driven past this place a hundred times and finally had dinner here last weekend. We were seated in the bar area, it has cool starry ceiling but otherwise the decor is a bit dated. Our table was too small for a party of 4. Our waitress was very nice but service was not great. It wasn't even that busy and it took forever for drinks, clearing plates, etc. I started with the Summer Salad which was very good. Entrees come with bread but they served ours at the time our entrees came out, I thought that was a little weird. I had the shrimp scampi which was fine. The pasta was good quality but the dish was so oily/greasy and a pet peeve of mine is when the tails are still on the shrimp (I know a lot of places do it). I feel that everything is a bit overpriced here. I will probably not come back here again. read more

Cafe Notte - Summer Salad - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Was very good. Service was top notch. Ambiance was homey. I would comeback again. It's a very nice place, the owner went around ensuring all was good. read more

Chicken was raw and had to be sent back. After they MICROWAVED it, the meal came back. Refused to eat it and decided to just enjoy the group. Another in the group ordered a gluten free meal. And when the meal was delivered, it wasn't gluten free. So they had to take it away and recook the pasta. Several people in the group had gastrointestinal issues the following day. All in all; NO WAY would I recommend dining here. read more

We tried this place for restaurant week and it was delicious! The waitress was super friendly but they seemed a little short staffed. We had to wait a bit before we could get a second glass of wine and we didn't see the waitress often after she took our order. Also the bread came out with the salad (second course) which we would have preferred it come out with our appetizers first since we wanted to dip the bread in the sauce that came arancini. For the first course we got mini crab cakes and arancini. Both were delicious and had two of each. Second came the Caesar salad and the fresh bread. I got the salmon and my friend got the short ribs with home made pasta. My salmon was cooked perfect and the maple bourbon glaze was amazing!! My friend loved her short ribs and it complimented the pasta wonderfully! Then we both had tiramisu for dessert and it was one of the better ones I've had. The restaurant has an open patio and the front of the restaurant inside was quaint and cozy. But I believe the back is where they host private parties. I would come again if I was on that side of town! read more

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Once frequented, now disappointed. This restaurant has always been a go to for me. Especially when I had out of town visitors. From the homemade pasta to my favorite go to, short rib pappardelle and perfectly seasoned meatballs. It was a place I always recommended. After the recent makeover, I most likely will not be returning. While the renovation looks great, it no longer feels like a Pittsburgh Italian restaurant. It's as though the changes were made without taking the local community into consideration. It is very disconnected from the region. The zucchini appetizer was baffling! Deep fried shreds that looked like a handful of deep-fried blades of grass. The sauce was delicious and outshined the zucchini instead of complimenting it. My friend ordered the bucatini, which arrived looking more like an appetizer than an entree. I had a chicken dish that was flavorful but dry not up to the usual standards. Portions were so small, my friend and I left hungry, which never happened before. We ended up going around the corner to Sunny Jim's, a casual bar nearby for tiramisu and enjoyed it more than our dinner. I understand cost restraints and the need to scale back the menu and do a refresh, but I hope they revisit their direction and bring back some of the old favorites that made the place so special. read more

Went to a high school reunion last month there after driving by this place for years. Let's just say I won't even slow down in the future. The owners were the opposite of hospitable. The man scolded us immediately upon arrival for not closing the front door fast enough - we couldn't move in, though, because there was a slight backup at the registration table. Felt like I was back in school again, indeed! The food was ok, nothing special. I heard from others that the chicken skewers were not done - yikes. We paid extra for our final hour there, but with about 25 minutes left in that hour, the woman owner turned off the air conditioning and turned up the lights. Not cool. No pun intended. She also berated the nice classmate who organized the reunion because someone left an empty beer bottle on her piano while taking a group picture. As I listened to her rant, I thought to myself, "I am never coming back here." Then a friend came over to be and said the exact same thing. It was a common refrain among the attendees. I hastened to leave because I did not want to see this lady at closing time, only to be greeted by her husband smoking a cigar immediately outside the exit. Lovely. Why these people thought it was a good idea to treat a group of mostly local middle-aged professionals like naughty school children is a mystery that I won't solve, because I'll never be back. read more

What a lovely experience! Excellent homemade pastas, lovely atmosphere, live music. I had the lamb ragu with homemade fettucini. The owner came over to ask us how we liked our evening. Well, it was wonderful. A hidden gem of Pittsburgh! read more

Tried Cafe Notte for the 1st time during a very chilly January Restaurant Week night and wasn't disappointed! Charming family run Italian restaurant on Rte 65 in Emsworth and near intersection of Camp Horne Rd. Had the delicious crab cake which had good ratio of crab meat to breading, the Ossobuco was humongous, tasty, moist and not salty as pork shanks can often be. the short rib parpadelle was also good. (I believe they make their own pasta) Desserts, home made Tiramisu and very berry cake were excellent. Dining Room was quaint with twinkling starlight vaulted ceiling but room was chilly even with a fire place. (Though it was 15F outside at the time) Angie our server was good. Even though it's more than 20 miles from home I Will be back to try more of the menu. read more

We recently hosted an engagement party for our son and his fiancee at Cafe Notte. We had about 40 guests and everything was fabulous. Beautiful private room, top notch food, and friendly and professional service. We are also big fans of their ala carte service. We highly recommend! read more

Love love love Cafe Notte!! I have driven past it many many times, and it was closed so that was very sad since I had never been there before, but I have always wanted to go. Finally they re-opened and for my birthday I had a little celebration for my birthday there with my man and The owners even greeted and offered us a table near the fireplace as they could tell we were celebrating something special. The place was packed when we came in and reservations fill up quickly. They do have live entertainment which I hope to catch the next time I go. The food was really amazing and I definitely recommend giving Cafe Notte a shot. I have already turned two people onto this place. The ambiance is dim, comfortable and Did not look like what I expected it to when I entered the building. It's really unique and beautiful. Apparently they do a lot of events here and they have been around for quite a long time. I would definitely check them out and make a reservation read more

Overall an unexpected surprise. Food was good. Only complaint was we were sat at a tiny high top table that was practically in a window and on top of a curtain. read more

Came here for the first time during restaurant week. We were seated promptly and server was there just about as soon as we sat down. We opted for the restaurant week menu. All was very good from appetizer to dessert. We will plan to be back in the future read more

Such a cute little place that's worth checking out if you're looking for something a little different, yet reasonable. Social distancing was done well - we really don't mind either way, but if you do, they do a great job. Appetizer was well portioned we got the cheese tray. Drinks were reasonably priced. Service was good. Entree was a bit smaller portioned than expected. I ordered the shrimp scampi, it was sized ok for me, my husband got the veal Marsala and it only came with one piece, it was good but not plentiful. read more

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Freshest of ingredients and very authentic Italian sauce. Delicious!! Ambiance was romantic and the service was outstanding! I will def make it a point to go back soon!! read more

Save yourself from this place. The chef is one of the owners and served a black burnt pork chop and when I asked for a new one came out to the table to tell our entire table we are wrong and that is the only way to cook a pork chop. Everyone else at the table has a dried out broke pasta that clearly sat under heat lamps for more than 15 minutes. Then when they staff tried to apologize and help us with the check since 3 people physically could not eat their dinners they still charged us full price for everything. And the icing on the cake ...4 and a half hours it took us to eat dinner from the time we sat down to the time we finally got a check. How this place makes it into restaurant week every year is crazy so clearly the owners are best friends with someone in the review industry. So again stay far away from the shit hole if you want to have edible food and treated like a human! read more