Crush XL is probably one of the best restaurants in Melbourne serving fresh ingredients and great cocktails. Went with some appetizers and the Bacon wrapped dates were a hit! Classics salty sweet combination made for a great way to open the palate. For the entree, I had the Sriracha Marinated Flat Iron with avocado mashed potatoes. The steak was seasoned perfectly and the avocado mash was creamy and very tasty. I have to steal this idea and make this at home. Our server was very friendly and served our party perfectly. The environment in the restaurant is modern with nice pops of the signature Crush color. Overall an awesome experience for anytime lookin for great food in Melbourne. read more

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We went Crush XI in downtown Melbourne in hopes of impressing my brother who's a legit foodie . I even looked up words like gastrique, panzanella, and fettuccini with philosophical intent to order aggressively since it was his turn for the check . I really just went for the insutution of bacon wrapped dates supervised by my wife and is girlfriend (two different people). The Medjool dates with millionaire bacon and goat cheese and I am not exaggerating when I say this dish could solve international conflicts. Sweet pineapple, salty bacon, creamy goat cheese, and a drizzle of what tasted like the chef whispering sweet nothings the way I'm romantic. I was going to order a second dose for "research purposes." Truffle Honey Chicken Tenders (Not Your Childhood Lunchbox) is the most misleading name ever because "tenders" sounds like something you eat in a drive thru parking lot (I'd pick Bojangles of course). These were crispy, sticky, sweet, slightly spicy, and basically the PhD version of chicken fingers a bit dry but the sauce make it good. Brussels sprouts usually remind people of childhood trauma. These charred brussels sprouts with honey, soy, ginger, and peanuts tasted like the chef personally apologized to every person who had ever been forced to eat boiled vegetables in 1987. Smoky, sticky, crunchy, slightly sweet. I would willingly eat vegetables here again, which is a sentence I never thought I would say out loud! We build a strategy to devide an conquer in a unique waiter (I hate the name server, it sounds like tennis) recommendation that was impressive! My brother ordered the heritage pork chop, which looked like it had been bench pressing in the kitchen before arriving at the table. Perfect crust, juicy inside, sitting on sweet potato hash with a slaw piled on top like a fashionable hat and I went with the snapper catch of th day for a surf and turf combo! I considered banging on the door at 3 am for another dose of pork chop like I was in college and wanted the party to go on My brother was impressed with the Blackbird Arise that showed up like it owned the table. He said it was smooth, bold, and dangerous because it makes you start considering dessert when you absolutely do not need dessert. I don't drink so I take his word for it. The women weren't behaving so thy split a smash burger and truffle fries, which means our ordering strategy was clearly "yes." The burger had that glossy brioche bun that looks like it was polished before serving, and the fries were exactly the kind that disappear before you realize you have eaten most of them. A smash burger is supposed to drip greese down your arm and this didn't. This strategy ensured my spot on the couch for bedtime. If you go, order two doses of the dates so you don't have to bring a date. read more

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spectacular dinner. My wife had a flat iron steak with avocado smashed potatoes. I had the catch of the day which was broiled and served on a bed of polenta and homemade veggie chips. Then we had the moose for dessert. Our server was Kurt.('Curt'?) and he was super attentive, informative thoughtful, and interesting. This is our first time visiting Melbourne, and it's so tempting to not explore the rest of the city and just eat here three meals a day for the rest of our vacation! read more

My husband surprised me with a reservation here at Crush for our anniversary dinner. Upon stepping into this restaurant you're treated like a VIP by the restaurant staff. We were greeted congratulated and shown to our table where they had an anniversary card signed and set up by all the staff members! Brought happy tears to my eyes and made me so excited for the dining experience. Our server was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. We ordered apps entrees and wine. Anything you order here is definitely delicious and carefully crafted. 100% want to revisit on a next special occasion. read more

Cute little restaurant with an upscale type of vibe. The food is good and it can also be tweaked for vegetarians, which is great.. they have a happy hour along with delicious drink options. There's something for everybody on the menu.outside seating is available. They have some delicious bacon wrapped dates, although I got mine without bacon. You can also buy the kitchen a round of beer. Definitely did that to show my appreciation to the kitchen. All an all a great place for a date or just going out with friends. read more

This is absolutely the place to be. The ambiance is fantastic, and the staff are incredible--attentive, knowledgeable, and they make you feel like family. I had an amazing experience and will definitely be coming back. If I could give more stars, I would! The food was delicious as well. read more

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Contemporary American in Downtown Melbourne's Flatiron Building The menu features carefully crafted dishes in a warm atmosphere with professional service. This is a place you can count on for a special night out. We started with the Medjool Dates and Salmon Crispy Rice. Both were fantastic "snacks" to start the meal off right. For entrees we ordered the Grouper Fresh Catch and Salmon. The Grouper had us at curtido, and the Salmon had us at coconut curry. Both of these dishes were top tier, truly phenomenal dishes. read more

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Crush is a nice restaurant located in downtown Melbourne. It is a good place to bring family and friends or just a date for an evening of good food and great service. We started our meal with cocktails consisting of blackberry and Serrano chili in the style of a margarita, they were fresh and well prepared. We had Caesar salads for starters and an onion tart which was very good. Our mains consisted of artichoke mushroom fettuccini also very good and the fish of the day blackened grouper served in a style I would categorize as Caribbean The real standout dish was the creamy shrimp orecchiette with andouille, so spicy and delicious! This was my third time here, it never disappoints read more

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I met two friends here on a Saturday around 12:30 and was surprised to find the restaurant nearly empty, especially for what would normally be considered a holiday weekend. We were seated and greeted promptly, and our waiter was pleasant and attentive, frequently refilling our water. One curious note, not really a complain, was how long it took to receive our Diet Cokes and subsequent refills. Just an amusingly long wait time. The pricing and decor lean toward a slightly more upscale dining experience. Two of us ordered the brunch burger with truffle fries, and one ordered the traditional breakfast. Everyone was very happy with their meals. The truffle fries were excellent, and the burger was juicy and well prepared. Although it didn't affect our orders, they were out of the poblano potatoes, salmon, and crab cakes. I imagine that could be disappointing for some guests, but the waiter was upfront about it, which I really appreciated. I hope the lack of customers was just an anomaly, because it's a nice addition to downtown Melbourne and the food was genuinely good. read more

Crush XI - Brunch burger and truffle fries - New American Near Me - Melbourne, Florida

What a beautiful night. Service was wonderful. Nicole was so great and personable. Couldn't recommend any more based on service alone. I have to eat GF and they were more than accommodating and knowledgeable. The food was good. I opted for the dates and the pork-chop entree. It was a tad saltier tasting than I prefer but I am sure that is a "me thing". Finally, I always check out the French 75 cocktail at new places. This did not disappoint! Easily one of the top 3 I had had! Will certainly come back next time I am in town. read more

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Came in for drinks and small bites without RSVP and sat at the bar. Stu, the bartender was friendly and gave some good notes and recommendations on their cocktail selection, and we ultimately went with a gin sour and an espresso martini! Both were fantastic and definitely worth the price! Well crafted and balanced with flavor/alcohol. Bryan the GM also came by to check on us, and he was very friendly - making sure we were enjoying everything! Would split some fries and risotto which was delicious, so I would definitely come back for dinner. Great vibes and staff here! Would be good for date nights or celebrations in a group! read more

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We went here for appetizers, and we were not disappointed. I highly recommend the bacon goat cheese dates and the bruschetta! The service was also very quick! read more

Doug was an awesome server! We enjoyed the drinks and the food. The area of the restaurant is very cute and walkable. However, I ended up getting food poisoning from the duck fettuccine. Did anyone else dine there on 8/30 and feel sick the next day? I'm still so nauseas and sick 2 days later ‍ read more

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Torn about this review. Came here based on the amazing reviews and initially was happy with the choice. The hostess was very accommodating with our seat selection and I was very happy with the ambiance of the restaurant. Our waiter, Matthew, was extremely polite and attentive. The only hiccup was with the appetizer order. We ordered the corn crab fritters and the onion tart. I don't eat pork and there was no mention of pork on the corn crab fitters. However as I chowed down on the fritters in the dim light of the restaurant I noticed the crab cakes were covered in crumbled bacon. Not the way I wanted to start my night. This turned me off for the rest of the meal and we ended up leaving. Matthew was extremely apologetic. We'd come back, but Next time I'll make sure to question all menu items. read more

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What an amazing experience. I couldn't have been happier with how special everyone made us feel. It was me and my husband's 9 year wedding anniversary and we were celebrating the fact that we are expecting! Everyone was kind enough to sign a anniversary card for us and treat us with a special drink to celebrate. Service was 5 stars! The food was great! I had also gotten the grab cake but forgot to take a picture of it. It definitely had a kick but the flavors were there. The Brussel sprouts were amazing and the flavor of the steak was out of this world! We will be coming again read more

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Love this place! It was surprisingly pretty empty when we went on a Saturday night.. this place should be packed because it was amazing! The spicy berry margarita (i forget the real name) was the best ive had in a long time i cant stop thinking about it. The menu was creative and different but still really appealing. The ambiance was cute southern rustic scratch kitchen vibes i liked the homey feeling. Everything we got to eat was delicious. We will definitely be back just wish it was a bit closer to home. read more

we had not been here in a while and it did not disa[[point, great food, fun and knowledable waiter, very good time

We had Kurtis as our waiter and he really made the experience extra special. It was our first time in town and he made us feel very welcomed. Great service paired with great food! read more

So the first time I came here I met someone from Africa and he was with his Italian friend. We took some shots. And talked. I had the truffle fries. The second time I came back I had the pork chop which was very very good. The third time I came back I had a shot of something dark I was looking for Hennessy but they said it was close to it. The staff were always nice and the ambiance is nice as well. read more

Returned to Crush last night (Sunday) and had a delicious dinner. I had the Peanut Bomb and it was so well presented and prepared. Perfectly cooked chicken over jasmine rice with charred cooked carrots and squash. Chef added chopped peanuts, a delightful peanut sauce (not too much and not overpowering) and surprise bits of candied ginger! An amazing combination of flavors that was spot on. The real show stopper was a desert with freshly baked fudgey chocolate cake topped with popcorn ice-cream, with a tower of caramel popcorn on top. Again, delicious subtle and bold tastes combine to be outstanding in creativeness and flavor!! read more

Wow what an amazing time! Our waitress Savannah was an absolute gem! She was so kind and helpful. She made us feel very comfortable. Our food was really delicious. They nailed every aspect of the pasta and I ordered some sour dough bread on the side that was life changing. My partner ordered the burger and he said that the fig spread made it very tasty and memorable. We loved the interior of the restaurant and I appreciated that they were able to seat us even though we didn't have reservations. We will definitely be back! read more

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The food and service were both absolutely UH-amazing! I'm so glad I found this place and would definitely return if I ever come back to this area. We started with the bacon wrapped dates and baked Brie that I'll dream about for years to come, I'm sure. Both entrees (the pork chop and seasonal grouper) had beautiful presentations. The combination of ingredients were excellently balanced and the cook was executed perfectly. Our friendly server was very well versed on the menu, food preparation techniques, and ingredients; she offered recommendations and answered all our questions. Given that she shared she was brand new, this speaks highly to the quality standards of a well-run restaurant. read more

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Their alcoholic beverages are the absolute best in town! Do NOT miss the opportunity to try their brunch burger, it is incredibly delicious and is what keeps me coming back! Service needs work. read more

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One of the top foodie locations in Melbourne! Fantastic service and cool vibes...definitely beach casual to business casual folks there...so pretty much all casual + clothes are a go. Super awesome bartenders- while I am not a craft cocktail gal, watching Stu make cocktails is not short of artwork! Love the wine list...great options for all palates! Now to the food...top favorite apps: Bacon wrapped dates; Burrata; Chicken tenders (I would never have ordered these, they were ordered for the table and SMACKED)! The pork chop and the smoked duck and mushroom with tea infused noodles were a hit...as well as the scallops (perfectly cooked) with risotto). Will be back soon.... read more

This is really 3.5 stars based on my personal experience, but I gave it a 4 because of the service I saw other patrons receiving. Unfortunately, there was a language barrier and that hampered our visit. My husband never got his beer until after we finished the appetizer which was fried chicken fingers with hot truffle sauce. The chicken was overcooked and you had to use a knife to saw them in half but the sauce was tasty and the pickles that came with it were delicious. I tried to ask some questions about the menu because I had heard the other servers give all these lovely descriptions and suggestions, but I was met with a blank stare every time I commented. For example, I said I like avocado and I like mashed potatoes but I don't know if I like avocado mashed potatoes, I got a blank stare. Same way with the fish of the day. It was red snapper but served on parpardelle which kind of counters the idea of a fresh catch to me and I made that comment thinking she would say, oh we can give you a side of Brussels, but nada. Not a word. My husband got the Crush salad and I got the Caesar to start. He got his salad but mine didn't come until I was halfway through my entree. Zero and I mean not a drop of salad dressing on either salad. My son and I both got the smash burger but it only had American cheese, one nibble of a mustard pickled onion ( just a tiny shred) and zero condiments. They put a side of Mayo on my plate and a side of ketchup on his. We both had truffle fries which were ok. I did ask if we could each get a side of ketchup and Mayo and it came after we were finished. Never ate the Caesar and tried to take it back to the hotel after asking for dressing but I wasn't given a fork in which to eat it. Threw it away. Don't get me wrong. This is a busy place and a nice one, but my experience was crazily lacking. My husband got the flatiron steak and he liked it I usually take loads of pictures but I was starving. The burger was just a burger. Nothing special, a tad dry. They don't ask how you want it cooked. Not that I think you really do that with thin smash burgers anyway. I'm still giving it a 4 just because I saw other people getting excellent service. read more

Crush XI - Menu - New American Near Me - Melbourne, Florida

Such a great spot in downtown Melbourne. We stopped in for Happy Hour and had a wonderful appetizer. Brian makes a great martini. The staff is focused on customer service. Everything is clean and the beautifully decorated. We will definitely be back. read more

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Went there for my birthday one year with family--it wasn't too bad. I enjoyed myself! The food was okay, though not really my cup of tea. It was definitely different, but different isn't always a bad thing. The service was good as well. I did love the aesthetic of the place. read more

Crush XI - Carrot Cake Ice Cream - New American Near Me - Melbourne, Florida

We were there with a group of 8, they got us in during dinner hour with a reservation that morning. WOW, the waitress was on par with New York manhattan 3 Michelin star restaurants. She is a class act. Keep her..pay her more, then pay her even more. She made the night. The food...best in Florida, and even Minnesota I've had, ok maybe on par with The Lexington if you know them. I wish I could go here every weekend, but alas vacations are once a year. Ohh and with drinks it was $100 per person average, some drank more some less. But total was 800 with tip, for 8 people. read more

Food was delicious. I was very reluctant to try something I hadn't had but wasn't disappointed at all. Thai peanut butter over has jasmine rice was 10/10. On Saturday night it was loud and packed thankfully we had a reservation service was great. Drinks are really good as well I had the Serrano margarita read more

Crush XI - New American Near Me - Melbourne, Florida

This restaurant was fantastic from start to finish. The hostess was friendly and the waiter Emory was very nice too and attentive. The restaurant is cozy and nicely decorated. There is ample street parking if you get there early enough (my reservation was at 5:30pm). The old fashioned with bacon was excellent and same with my pomegranate martini (that I added some lavender) was very good too! The single large crab cake with sesame aioli for an appetizer was fantastic! The Cesar salad was fresh and delicious with the perfect amount of dressing. The chicken fettuccine Alfredo with artichoke hearts and mushrooms was fabulous and ample for two people. The Alfredo sauce was on the lighter side and buttery. The happy anniversary card and two sweet shots was a nice touch. This restaurant did not disappoint and I will definitely be back next time I visit and order the same thing! read more

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I forgot to take pictures of my food but it looked and tasted incredible. My server was from Slovakia and she did a terrific job ... Not too busy for a Sunday afternoon brunch. I came in by myself after church. I ordered a side salad. They make their dressings. Today they offered Ranch and wine vinaigrette... the food is delicious. Everything tastes so clean. Their food is fresh and made in their kitchen. Nothing you eat here comes out of a box. This building has to be 80 years old in historic downtown Melbourne. I'm pretty certain my grandparents shopped in this area in the 50s and 60s. The interior is pretty. I like how they've painted the brick and left the ceiling. The chairs are comfortable, and every table has fresh flowers in a vase. Your experience here, matters to the owners and operators of this establishment. I've eaten lunch here many times as well, although they do not currently have lunch during the week. Their brunch is great. I ordered a cheeseburger with french fries today and as expected, it was awesome. I like honey mustard and they were kind enough to give me aïoli, mustard, and honey. It was really good too. Please forgive me for being extra ha ha. The sweet tea was on point. As a southerner, I love good sweet tea so thanks for that Crush XI. Hurry here. You'll be glad you came by. read more

Crush XI - I can't wait to have dinner with my family at this table!! - New American Near Me - Melbourne, Florida

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Sadly, I didn't write my review timely enough to remember everything we had when we were in town, but I do recall that the food and service were both fantastic! What I do remember: The crush salad - romaine, bacon, aged cheddar and tomato. I was disappointed in the flavor of the dressing or the cheese, so I would go with a different salad next time. Burrata - compari tomato jam, pesto, heirloom grape tomatoes, grilled sourdough bread. Medjool Dates - millionaire bacon, goat cheese, grilled pineapple, and red wine gastrique. Smoked Duck Fettucini - tea-scented fettuccini, cremini mushrooms, pistachios, dried cherries, crumbled duck cracklings. I loved the interior even though it was significantly different from the Cocoa Village location it had been in prior. I also loved that we had a table in the back room that didn't house very many tables, so it was a nice intimate spot for dining. This restaurant still remains one of my favorites in Brevard County. I will be back! read more

We arrived at 11 am for Brunch. Great experience all around. Food Service Ambience! My first bite of The Tiramisu Waffles made we want to bang the table. So good. The Crab Cake Benedict had large chunks of fresh crab. Perfect. My Hubz ordered Steak and potatoes. The med well steak was so tender. The large side of bacon was "clean" and crispy. The iced tea was fresh and sweetened perfectly. Our server was smiling and attentive throughout. Definitely Will recommend! read more

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Really appreciate the atmosphere and superb service at Crush XI. The menu offers a great selection with seasonal updates. We love the market fish, the salmon, and the pork chop. read more

Buy a bottle of BBQ and drink it. That's the duck tenders in a nutshell. Service was good until they turned off the light on us while we were sitting outside. The restaurant was still open, but no one else was sitting out there. But mainly the food wasn't great. Food was smothered in sauce. The duck tenders had very strong BBQ sauce and you couldn't even taste it. It was duck... I had to peel the crust and wipe sauce off to see it. It lacked flavor. I'm also unsure if the sauce didn't come out of the bottle. It had that off the shelf after taste. My duck fettuccine also had too much sauce. The sauce wasn't as overwhelming. The Brussels sprouts also were smothered in sauce. Can't make up for bad cooking by drowning the food. At least service was good. The bacon covered dates were actually pretty good though. read more

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We took friends in July, with 3 of 4 specifically choosing this spot for the flat iron which is listed on the permanent menu (not a special). We went early in the evening (5pm), before crowds and on a Tuesday. We were told they had run out of the flat iron, and so we had to scramble to find alternatives. Ultimately, our party was pleased with their meals, but no one was overly impressed. I think the disappointment of them not having their full menu available put a negative vibe on the overall experience. If you can't offer your full menu all the time, then it should be offered as a special when available. No one should have to call ahead to verify everything is available. It ultimately points to poor management on someone's part (inventory management , prep management, something). Not sure if come back given I won't ever really know if they have what's on the menu or not. read more

I didn't know what to expect, coming to a smaller town in terms of nice dining. We live in a metropolitan area, so our expectations are high for finer dining, and yet and still, Crush XI crushed it. We came here to celebrate our kiddo's bday, and from start to finish the meal and crew was amazing. I liked that we could do better dining in an unpretentious storefront. The team was warm and welcoming and lighthearted. You can tell it was a fun place to be, when their menu allows you to buy the back kitchen team a round of beers. The other nicest touch was a hand written birthday card with the entire staff's signatures to celebrate. Everything is fresh and from scratch. We had the crab bao, the fresh baked sourdough bread with dipping oils, the fried chicken appetizer, salmon crispy rice, caesar salad, burger, peanut sauce chicken, and carrot cake ice cream dessert, as well as the berry dessert. Every single item was well portioned, fresh, seasoned well, and unique. There was an asian vibe woven throughout the menu, but not so much that if you didn't want asian for dinner, that you'd be put off. It was just amazing. Can't wait to visit Melbourne again to come back! read more

This is a review with two distinct experiences- the food was spectacular. I have never had a better crab cake in my life. It was such an intentionally flavored multi layer experience of taste. Very good. My entree had a rich flavor... just a slight note that it was very over sauced for me. If I were to order it again, I would ask for way less sauce. My interactions with my server, Reece, were not as spectacular. I was very put off by his mansplaining approach to my dining experience. I get that he is an advocate for the restaurant and food sales impact his bottom line, too, but he asked me if I knew what burrata cheese was- yes, yes I do know- and he explained how pappardelle was made- I know how it's made- and that it is a flat noodle- got that, too. It was insulting and unnecessary. Additionally, he couldn't take a hint or read body language during his attempt to share his knowledge. I was done very quickly and left. read more

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5 stars for a fantastic Melbourne restaurant. My wife and I were visiting Melbourne with the family and tasked with finding somewhere to eat lunch. After looking through reviews for various places, I noticed that everyone who reviewed Crush XI said the food was great. That was enough for us as we decided to head on over. We arrived at the venue, which is located East New Haven Avenue near the train tracks, around 2:15pm on a Sunday and were able to grab a table. The venue (especially the bar) was very packed. The hostess informed us that the brunch menu was still in effect until 2:30, so we decided to start off with some drinks to pass the time. I ordered a NY Penicillin, which was solid and strong, and later a bacon old fashioned, which was quite fantastic. After the 15 minutes had passed, our server promptly started taking our food order. He was a nice guy who provided good service throughout the meal. Our order consisted of the baked brie, Nashville duck tenders, and bacon wrapped dates to start. The food came out rather promptly and was quite excellent. The tenders were the perfect level of spicy and tasty, the brie was a rather large dish with plenty of crackers and berries to go with the cheese, and the bacon wrapped dates were...well, exactly what you would want. Soon after finishing our starters, our mains came out. One side of the table ordered the burger, which they found to be quite solid. My wife and I ordered and shared the smoked duck fettuccini, and boy was it solid. The duck and noodles were great, while the pistachios and cherries made for a wonderful touch. Overall, Crush XI provided us with a fantastic lunch. The solid venue and service combined with the great food makes for a great place to check out in the downtown Melbourne area. read more

Crush XI - Smoked Duck Fettuccini - New American Near Me - Melbourne, Florida

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This restaurant serves moderns drinks and cuisines and had plenty of food and options that you would not find on any other menu. I first ordered a whiskey sour after a conversation with the bartender and was pleased with the drink. They must make a lot of classic old fashioned because to my surprise, the egg whites are pre-cracked in a container (similar to how syrup is poured). The crab cakes were extremely fresh and the garnish was a perfect compliment to the dish, adding a fresh cooling element to the fresh taste of the seafood. The crab cakes and garnish were both extremely light which for me truly distinguished the crab cake as an appetizer. The steak was just okay. I do enjoy avocados but the avocado mashed potatoes were not something I would order again or recommend as the avocados overpowered the potatoes. The flank steak was tender as expected but the taste was overpowered by the "steak sauce" heavily drizzled over the dish. The Brussels sprouts were well charred and had a sweet glaze that balances the bitterness of the char. To finish it off, I had the crème brûlée with blueberry compote which I would order over and over and over again. A crispy layer of caramelized sugar on top, a creamy interior, and the freshness of the blueberry's were all well executed. I would have appreciated a lighter thicker layer of custard on the inside. read more

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