Booked a reservation before walking into this place, only to be told there is no space. Utter crap - will not ever be back and I'll be sure to tell anyone else I know to avoid this place. Customer (lack of) service read more

We were really looking forward to trying this place, but unfortunately it missed the mark for us. Our beer order was wrong, which can happen. Our appetizer was delicious, but our salads never came ..we waited and waited and finally just gave up. On top of that, there were several uncleared tables around us the entire time, which didn't make for a very pleasant atmosphere. Overall, the food we did get was good, but the service and cleanliness really need improvement. I would not go back read more

One of friends was dying to check out this place so we went for a girls night out. The space is large with both indoor and outdoor seating. The space is surprisingly large in the inside. There was a band playing when we arrived (it was a Friday) . I noticed the spacing between the large booths and 2 person tables left little to NO room for moment. There were several traffic jams from people trying to leave and get seated at their tables. Reservation: highly recommend but there is seating available at the bar Parking: on the street parking or park in the parking deck behind the restaurant. ** bring your parking ticket in the restaurant (they validate parking) Parking was $4 instead of $7 Cocktail: Playboy Stache -4/5 and Espresso Martini: 4/5 Dinner - Chicken Katsu - the waitress said it was a popular dish. 2/5 It wasn't good at all to me. I should've ordered the wings Service- our waitress seemed knowledgeable of the menu. She checked on us twice after we got our food. Overall, I wasn't impressed at all. The decor is nice and the vibe is chill. It's just a fancy regular bar in my opinion. I probably wouldn't come back but you should judge for yourself. read more

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As desired, I wanted to come again, but this time for lunch. Came at 1:30pm on a Wednesday. Seated promptly. Morgan was my server, and she was fantastic. Had the Brussel Sprouts, which I knew were tasty. The Pub Burger was very good. But what stole the show was the dessert. Was expecting something average. THE MONKEY BREAD WAS OUT OF THIS WORLD!!! Didn't see it coming. Got to meet and interact with the GM, Maura. She was very nice, personable, and can tell she strives for success by keeping things in order. Parking was a breeze in the adjoining deck. I will likely make this a monthly lunch option and look to try other things on the menu. Morgan(my server) was very attentive to me and the other tables she handled. I will honestly request her for my future visits. Highly recommend this establishment. read more

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Growing up in Phoenix, I definitely consider myself an OG fan of Culinary Dropout. It's so exciting to see this brand thriving in a beautiful new location in Charlotte! My group of four friends stopped in for lunch on a Friday shortly after the restaurant opened. We were seated right away ... and I actually ordered almost as soon as I sat down because I had a plane to catch! I don't think I've ever not liked something I've ordered from CD ... and this lunch was no different. I kind of created my own "soup and sandwich" combo, with a bowl of "Yesterday's Soup" and a "Wedged Iceberg salad." Our servers were incredibly friendly - and very accomodating when I let them know that I had to leave shortly to get to the airport. The soup was a delicious and hearty beef and barley - and I love the quote that "it's always better the next day" because that's definitely something I live by at home. The salad was crisp and fresh - with a creamy dressing and a good mix of textured toppings. Our table also shared an order of the "Soft Pretzels and Provolone Fondue," which is never a bad decision. The pretzels are served warm and soft ... and the cheese had a perfectly dippable consistency. I also want to shout out the beautiful live music playing in the background throughout our lunch! The attention to detail is definitely present (as it is with any Fox Restaurant), and I'm excited to see how Culinary Dropout does in the Charlotte metro! read more

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The food is very good. The service from our hostess Toby was very good. She was prompt and remembered everything we asked of her. She gave service with a smile. The location is great. The layout of the restaurant is bright and open. The bar is large enough to accommodate many people. The restrooms are very clean. Actually the entire restaurant is very clean and that's very attractive . They have large breakout rooms for meetings, parties or gathering events. I enjoyed myself here and can see myself coming back again when the stage has a musical performer or just to hang out. read more

We love this place up until the The experience we had today. we specifically told the bartender behind the bar no sour cream on our nachos and she followed up with. Do you have any other dietary restrictions . We proceed with no. Then, when the order came out wrong with the sour cream, she proceeded to lie to the other bartender and say that we did not tell them.. I'm in the industry. All you have to do is approach it acknowledge it, and then fix the situation and said she chose to lie about it making a very uncomfortable dining experience for me and my significant other. I will not be coming back unless they compensate me for a terrible experience. read more

I went for the first time on my birthday and had a WONDERFUL experience. The food was delicious and the service was incredible! The ambiance was friendly and the atmosphere was welcoming. There is nothing negative to say. We will be going back again and again. read more

Love that it is farm to table, so cool. I got the Mac burger and my husband got the pub burger. The Mac was pretty bland with not much sauce but it was fine. The pub burger was pretty good. The fries were great. The environment and employees were super cool! read more

Noah is a 5-STAR waiter. I would recommend when you make your reservation you ask for him as well. You will thank me for the experience. He is also from WV, my home state and city. read more

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Decent but this place definitely has some kinks that need to be ironed out before it's a 10 out of 10 experience for me. When my husband and I got to the counter for a table, we weren't really greeted promptly even tho there were 5 people standing, talking to each other. After a few minutes, someone finally spoked to us and took us to a booth. Our waiter quickly greeted us but I noticed that she wouldn't really talk or even look at my husband at all. She focused mostly on me even while ordering our meals which was quite odd and uncomfortable. I'm not sure if she just doesn't like males or what was going on. She was friendly and helpful but just to me. But anyways...for drinks, my husband got a local IPA and I got the campfire vibes, which was sweet and everything you could want in a cocktail. It tasted like fall in a cup, so cozy. For food, my husband ordered the 36-hour pork ribs. They were delicious, meat was falling off the bone. I ordered the steak frites and was sorely disappointed that I didn't also order the pork ribs. As you can see from the photo, the steak was small compared to the price. Even the portion size for fries was tiny. I expected more for $31. Inside the decor, the set up is really nice. They had a live band playing on Saturday when we went which was nice. Once the band left they had music playing - a little loud but not terrible. You could still have a conversation with the person next to you. That being said, I would come back probably in a few months when things are a tad more settled. read more

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My first experience here will definitely not be my last! The restaurant is large and beautiful. There is plenty of indoor seating, a large bar, and outdoor seating. The decor is simple, but stunning. My friend and I visited on a Saturday night, but a reservation was made and I'm glad we did. The restaurant was busy! The hostess was pleasant and got us seated within a few minutes as we arrived a little early. They also had live music which was a nice added bonus. Our server was friendly and made sure we were satisfied through our entire visit. I ordered the tropical princess which is a mocktail and I was so glad to see an actual mocktail section of the drink menu. The drink was delicious and refreshing. Our appetizer was the soft pretzels and fondue which was some of the best pretzel buns I've ever had. They are served warm and have an almost buttery flavor. It's definitely a shareable starter! For my main I ordered the Mac which is their version of a McDonald's Big Mac. It was delicious and lived up to its name. For desert I had the caramelized banana bar which was to die for!! Do not skip on this dessert. It had a delicious and crunchy cornflake buttery bottom and a light and fluffy praline mousse. I am already looking forward to my next visit! read more

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We finally decided to give this place a try on a Saturday evening. We arrived around 6:20p and when we checked in we were told there were a lot of reservations so they probably wouldn't be able to seat us until 7:45p. They did inform us about their patio area which is open seating and you can order from the bar. They couch and coffee table style seating with cornhole and ping pong. We opted to wait for a table to become available. To our surprise thanks to a cancellation we were seated within 25 minutes. There was lots of staff that checked on us once we got to the table. We placed our order: Soft Pretzels & Provolone Fondue, Crispy Popcorn Shrimp, 36-Hour Pork Ribs, and Chicken Cacio e Pepe. The appetizers came quickly but were both underwhelming. There were about 12 large pretzels balls but the cheese lacked flavor. Definitely not worth the price. The popcorn shrimp was also nothing to write home about but it had more flavor than the pretzels. Our entrees did take a little longer (30 minutes) but I was just getting my hopes up. Once it arrived the food looked good but didn't meet our expectations. Hubby said the ribs were delicious but his fries were hard and coleslaw was just traditional coleslaw. My pasta was very underwhelming, lacked so much flavor. This isn't my first time trying a Cacio e Pepe dish but I wouldn't recommend or get this again. Contemplated giving a 3/5 but the funny thing is once we got our entrees the attentiveness stopped. We actually needed another silverware set and couldn't get anyone to come over. My husband made a joke after dinner but I'll save it lol. It's a decent space but overall the food didn't impress us. We wouldn't get anything other than the ribs again. For the price and very underwhelming food we probably won't give this place another chance. read more

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Attentive service. Delicious food. Friendly waitstaff. Was out of my first choice, took a bit for our table to get our full meal. read more

Culinary Dropout - Soft Pretzels & Provolone Fondue - New American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Omg omg omg! If you haven't been here, What are you waiting for?? Amazing food, incredible service, and great atmosphere! This is the new spot. Must orders: Soft Pretzels and provolone fondue: we ordered two they were so good! They lit the candle at the table to keep the fondue warm. They are the softest pretzel bites ever and handmade in house with the perfect saltiest and bit of crunch! Onion rings: perfectly crispy and thick cut onion rings with a barbecue sauce. Pro tip: request a ranch as well MA the Meatloaf: so yummy and tender! Delicious gravy on the mashed potatoes as well! BBQ Pork Belly Nachos: same cheese sauce as the fondue and it was amazing! All the toppings were so fresh and yummy. The pork belly was soooo tender and melted in your mouth. Steak Frites: seasoned to perfection! Came with a little salad and Had no room left for dessert but can't wait to return for Mississippi Mud Pie and Monkey bread! read more

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Such a cool new restaurant in South End. The place is huge and has lots of seating inside and outside. Service was great! Our server, the hosts and anyone else who helped us was super nice. I started with the two to mango drink. It was a vodka based drink with a mango white claw. They put some of the white claw inside then give you the rest of the can as well. It wasn't too sweet and it was very refreshing. I loved it! My friend and I shared a few items because we wanted to try everything! We got the soft pretzels and provolone fondue. It came with so many pretzels! The fondue was really good and they lit the warmer at the table for you. The pretzels were super soft and tasty. Then we got the bbq pork belly nachos. They were really flavorful and loaded with all the toppings! After that we were full but we had already ordered the pepperoni and Italian sausage pizza to share. It was really flavorful and cheesy, but not my favorite item. Maybe since I was so full, I didn't enjoy it as much as the other things. I also got the Mississippi mud pie to go because it looked amazing! It was sooo good! I loved the espresso sauce that it came with. read more

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The food is phenomenal! Came during lunch on a Tuesday, and it was not busy at all. Had reservations made, and our party was immediately sat upon arrival. Our waitress was super friendly and efficient. I ordered their chopped chicken salad with a side of fries. I was first thrown off by the chicken being COLD. I thought it would be warm chicken, but it was cold. Either way, the salad was DELICIOUS! It already comes with the dressing mixed in, but they did not go overboard with the dressing, which I appreciated. The whole salad tasted refreshing and delicious. The fries were very crispy and warm. Others in my group all state that their food was delicious as well. They ordered steak and fries, fish and chips, and their chicken sandwich. The whole restaurant was very chill and chic. Open floor plan with plenty of seating options, including outside on their patios. They are located southend uptown, so parking garage or side street parking. I will definitely be returning. read more

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My friend and I split the pretzels with cheese and the Thai-style chicken salad, which was AMAZING. Had very attentive server and really enjoyed the meal. read more

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Ordered the wings and pig in a blanket for an appetizer.. both were good and the homemade ranch was delish as well. Also had Caesar salad for entree and it was average. Service was nice. Went for brunch/football Sunday would def return for dinner menu. read more

Culinary Dropout - Wagyu Pigs In a Blanket Hot Wings - New American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Service: We arrived on time for a reservation for 8. They did not seat us for ten minutes after our time, but that was OK (we didn't complain), they apologized, and even gave us a free pretzel appetizer as part of the apology. The table service was pretty slow. Waited kind of long to put orders in, to get drinks, and get the final bill. Ambiance: Inviting, big, open place with nice furniture and stuff. Seemed very clean, even the bathrooms. Food: The pretzels were no different than something microwaveable from the freezer aisle. Unremarkable. For my brunch I ordered the (forgot name) but it was supposed to be pulled pork, two over easy eggs, "crispy potatoes," poblano peppers, and onions, plus a tortilla. Overall, it was very bland. The eggs were cooked well enough. The gigantic tortilla seemed to be homemade and was good, but I'm not really sure why it was part of the plate. The potatoes were like the cubed frozen kind you get in a grocery store, nothing special at all. The pulled pork should have been the main part of the dish, but it had no flavor at all and was the fattest piece of the pork shoulder. Hardly any meat on it and it really did not pull like pulled pork should. The stars are for the service and ambiance, not the food. Some have said the food was overpriced. I think their prices are better than most restaurants like this, however, the quality and service did not match the price. read more

I visited for the first time last Friday night. I run a brewery and this was some of the best service I've ever received. Host were very warm at the door, seated us within minutes of our reservation. Our server Mary Kate, was absolutely amazing. She was very knowledgeable of menu and recommendations were spot on. The Chef,I believe his name was David, came out and delivered one of our apps and explained the vision of it. Great touch with a busy night. Drinks were amazing, we had their old fashions. The salmon and brussel sprouts were mouth watering. Will def be back and can't wait for more!!! read more

I took the hubby out for a nice dinner on Labor Day. I searched a few places on Yelp and landed on Culinary Dropout. I ordered takeout (salmon) from here a few weeks prior. I was not expecting to like Culinary Dropout; however, the salmon I ordered before was delicious, so that is why I decided to give it another try. The menu seems limited to me, but this time I tried the Spicy vegan curry and my hubby ordered the chicken cacio e pepe. The vegan curry was so flavorful. The coconut milk combined with the curry makes for a delicious combination. I thoroughly enjoyed this dish. My hubby stated that his food was good as well. Overall, I rate the ambiance a 4/5, service 5/5, food 4/5. I will return again to try something else in the menu. read more

oh man, its hard to start where things when wrong with this place.... Long story short - arrogant hipsters with bad tattoos, with expensive menu, and PAR food..........I hope this place burns down to the ground, and something decent goes up here. We roll-up on a Monday at 1:30pm - GREAT day outside, and there are only 3 tables outside (PLENTY open), and we are wanting to GIVE our money to this establishment. The hostess (bad tattoos, and skimpy clothes), tells us that we cannot sit outside (3 ppl in our party, but refuses to sit us at a four-top; the outside is fairly empty, mind you). We ask to put two 2-tops together - nope. Well, what about putting a third chair on a two-top.......nope. AND THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE ARE EMPTY! Fine, we go inside - its 1:30 on a Monday - empty establishment - only two other tables inside, and they are leaving. We place our order - kids meal comes out first, but there are literally eight fries on the plate (do these ppl know how kids work???). I request more fries, and at first the waitress lets me know that its a side-order for FF that i will have to pay for..............then relents. We wait for our food, and wait, and wait, and wait, and wait............. No food - there are THREE cooks in the kitchen, and I have no idea what they are doing (clearly, not our order). There is a glass so you can see kitchen and expo. I look at them, they look at me........we waive. Nothing is being done. I waive a few more times, and point at the food at the expo...........nothing. It took THIRTY FIVE minutes to get our order, from dropping with the waitress to coming out. The food WAS PAR at best..............nothing (NOTHING) culinary or gastro-pub about this place. Its an American Pub, with expensive prices. HOLY CRAP, such a disappointment from the moment in. I've worked in the food industry for 10+ yrs, and this place is the epitome of horrible service - from the front of the house to the back of the house. read more

I loved this place. The service was great. The feta tahini dip was so good and different from anything I've ever had. I got the chicken sandwich and it was delicious. And the cocktail I had, the Evil Jungle Princess, I'm obsessed. read more

Culinary Dropout - Evil Jungle Princess on the right; so good! - New American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Culinary Dropout is one of my favorite spots to dine. Large bar for drinks and dining, open atmosphere, seating for large groups, live music and now their summer menu. If you love their Sweater Weather Sangria give this one a try. You won't be disappointed. As for the touch of strawberries to the Whipped Feta... I could've had about 3 more of these. So good! read more

Culinary Dropout - Whipped Feta & Tahini Dip - New American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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First time eating here and the food was fantastic. Bartender Aliyah gave a great recommendation of Crispy Shrimp Rice and it was outstanding. I also like the fact that she recognized I was on business and didn't try to upsell me with Alcohol. The manager Sal came by to check on me. All around great service, great food, cool atmosphere. read more

The ambience was nice, the service was great. The popcorn shrimp was delicious, I should have made that my entree. The Mongolian beef was just ok. I didn't love it. Next time I go, I will try something different. read more

Went for brunch and it was amazing!!! Got the egg any style breakfast and loved it, cannot go wrong with that. We got the banana bread french toast to split, and omg it was delightful. I would get that every single time. The service is always amazing, our server was awesome, very attentive and quick. Management stopped by as well and they were so sweet. Love the vibes here always, one of the best places in Charlotte by far. read more

Culinary Dropout - Banana Bread French Toast - New American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

A great first dinner to start off my residency in Charlotte! We came on a busy Saturday night, and were given the option of waiting 1.5 hours for a table or sitting at the bar. We chose the bar option. The bartenders were slow to take our drink orders. Our biggest problem was how long it took the food to come out. They forgot to place the order for our appetizer, and it came out after our mains. The appetizer (whipped feta) was amazing and they took our drinks off the check so we didn't mind, but beware if you think you're getting faster service by sitting at the bar. We did enjoy everything we ordered. The strawberry salad was my favorite because they added snap peas and almonds. It was super unique. My cocktail with watermelon and mezcal was also amazing. read more

Our waiter Noah is a 5 star., the food excellent. Noah made our dining experience top knotch, his knowledge of the food, drinks and portion sizes. Very polite and accommodating. We luncheon at the outdoor patioWhen You dine there ask for Noah. You won't be disappointed. Karen, from detroit, michigan read more

Very good food and excellent service. I recommend the Asian crunch salad and add the salmon. Delicious! We also shared the Brussels sprouts and the shrimp appetizer. I couldn't wait to finish my leftovers later that day. Lots of seating inside and very convenient for walking and you can park very close. read more

Beautiful interior. Excellent food. Live music was a lovely surprise! Service was fantastic. Best food was the short rib dish. If I were to change anything, I would have the servers wear uniforms - it was confusing - and I would space the tables out more. Overall a fantastic dinner though! Will be back! read more

Culinary Dropout - Steak Frites* + Mongolian Short Rib* - New American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I first learned of Culinary Dropout restaurants during a vacation in Phoenix but was never able to visit one. So when I had the opportunity to dine at the one in Charlotte, I was quite enthusiastic to do so. This place is HUGE, very huge. But also, because of the finished concrete floors, high ceilings, and music, it can also be loud, very loud. Be prepared to talk a little louder and listen a little more carefully when talking to your servers. If the noise is an issue, you can always dine outside in nice weather. The food is what I'd call upscale and/or trendy comfort food, combined with a fun drink menu featuring local beers, always a good thing. Since they had fried chicken on the menu, I used this as my first "fried chicken in North Carolina" opportunity for my stay here. While they don't say so on the menu, you do have your choice of all white meat pieces or all dark meat pieces. I chose all dark meat (their default). The coating was just about perfect, with tender, juicy meat. The biscuit, smashed potatoes and gravy, and cole slaw with it were okay but not memorable. I added the roasted brussels sprouts in a spicy sauce as a side, and these were delicious. Service was fun, we had a great waitress. All our food came out quickly too. I'll definitely add Culinary Dropout to my searches now when dining in other cities. read more

I'm rating this spot. 3.5 rounded down to a 3. The service was great, the place is nice but the food just didn't impress us as much. The best thing we had was the Asian salad. Yes lettuce and dressing. My husband ordered the pizza, I ordered the fried rice and my dad had the MAC burger. Nothing was bad, but for the price we just expected more. read more

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Another place that is up and coming that is so cute. The aesthetic is worth seeing, but the food is nothing special. Seems to be the new trend. Good for instagram not your belly. read more

We liked culinary dropout! We ate ate culinary dropout 12/30/24 and it was great! The service and atmosphere were also good. My cheeseburger was delish. The pizza was a little weird though. Also, if you are southern like me, they do not have sweet tea!! If you are in the Charlotte area and want good food, than I recommend the Culinary Dropout read more

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I went here once and have never craved it or thought about it so I'm gonna conclude it was mid. Also the live music was in a weird place. We didn't realize it was live because they were behind a wall or something read more

I've been here twice and really like the food here overall. Service - Attentive. However, the one thing I hate is that both visits my friends and I felt rushed by the wait staff. This last visit, our waiter delivered our bill before our dessert had arrived. Never had someone do that before. Super annoying. Food I would order again - * Garden Mule (mock tail) - Lime juice and ginger beer concoction) * Grilled Asparagus - A nice alternative to a starter salad. Different flavor profile than what I've had before. Really liked it. A bit Asian inspired flavor. * Bolognese - Good. Very beefy. Savory not sweet. A tad oily, but overall I found it tasty. * Monkey bread with vanilla ice cream - This surprised me. My friend ordered it and I would not have just based on the description, but it turned out to be really yummy. It also takes awhile to cook so if you want to sit longer at your table order this. * Caramelized Banana Bar - Inventive. Tasty. What would I not order again? * Nothing. All was good. read more

Culinary Dropout - Bolonese - New American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I was invited out to brunch to this place. I'd never heard of it but am familiar with the area. There's a parking deck within walking distance. We had a reservation and my friend was already seated when I came. The ambiance is so nice! I love the open concept. I went on a Sunday and there was live music. I ordered the Banana Bread French Toast. It was delicious! I also ordered the Apple monkey bread to go. Everything was delicious my friends even raved about their orders. I would definitely revisit. read more

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Sun, 4/14 brunch with a friend. So y'all! You know from previous posts, I have had nothing but good things to say about the food here and, don't get me wrong, I still love the food here. But today I ordered my love, Feta Tahini Dip! I did request a smaller portion of ciabata toast, grilled darkly, because it's usually served with way more bread than needed. I get my order and there are 2 very thick, barely toasted pieces of bread (unlike the usual thin, crispy slices). I mention to the waitress and she offered other suggestions, and they did not have crackers, so I opted not to eat (as I am usually fine with). Mins later, the manager comes out to discuss and mentions they have recently changed vendors. I was fine with that and thanked him for coming over. I did not insult or complain about the Chef or anything else. My friend got her meal and loved it. We stop the Manager to make him aware of how much she enjoyed. As I'm talking to him, here comes someone from the kitchen to stand there and give me the nastiest, snide look I had ever seen. When I asked if he needed to speak to me, the Manager I am speaking with introduces him as another one of the restaurant Managers. Throughout the entire time my friend and I sat there talking, several employees here came over to get a look at "the woman who did not eat her food" and ensure I got that same snide glare. Just so you people know, there was no complaint about the meal or the Chef, you just did not provide the same consistent meal that I had fallen in love with. Just not sure how that personally offended so many staff members. I'm aware of this restaurants' reputation and how they have publicly had to defend it in the past, and yet, I still choose to dine here. Maybe train employees on better behavior and you won't lose loving customers. I can never eat here again because I can no longer trust the staff. Oh, and for the staff... do your research and know who your influential reviewers are before you decide to behave poorly or, better yet... don't behave poorly read more