I'm from California and was in Arizona for a training when a few of the girls and I decided to stop by Culinary Dropout for lunch. Overall, it was a great experience. I ordered the Asian salad, and it was absolutely delicious. It was packed with flavor, fresh, and the portion size was just right. The restaurant itself is huge, with plenty of seating and a spacious, comfortable atmosphere. The service was great as well. Everyone was friendly, attentive, and made us feel welcome throughout our visit. My only real criticism is that the menu felt a bit limited, especially for vegetarians. There weren't many vegetarian options available, which could make it difficult for some people to find something that appeals to them. That said, the food was great, the service was excellent, the pricing was fair, and the overall experience was very enjoyable. I would definitely return the next time I'm in Arizona. read more

This restaurant is fabulous. I love the decor & openness. This was our first time eating at this location. The service is fantastic our food orders came out pretty fast. read more

We were about 16 people and the atmosphere is lively . The server was okay , but the food and menu choices just not at all great . My husband had a French dip - terribly salty . My friend and me shared what we thought was the only real choice we could enjoy and it was horribly undercooked fried chicken . Mash potatoes were slushy . My sister had the meatloaf - she never finished it said it was not at all what she expected . The turkey pastrami my niece had was not great . They were Sitting nearby me so I don't know what the others at the opposite end of table had for dinner but at our end it was unanimous we would not go to culinary dropout again . First timer and last timer . Horrible . This place must rely on their drinks to stay afloat in business because their food in our opinion is not up to even a fair standard . Sorry ! read more

Vibe alone 10/10 The princess is sweet and packs a punch the cadi is worth the money, salmon is cooked medium and to me it taste perfect. The butternut squash and couscous is earthy and almost Smokey? It's amazing! Mashed potatoes are 100/10 the salmon has this pesto that's literally sooooo darn good I want it on EVERYTHING crispy juicy perfectly seasoned fried chicken paired with hot sauce was an elite combo. I definitely recommend. Unfortunately the mac & cheese was not very good. Two out of 10. It was simply Mac AND cheese almost felt as if the two were separate things read more

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Culinary Dropout is a good go to! We went here a couple weeks ago for a friends birthday. Started with the pretzel and fondue which always hit the spot. Apparently this is the only location that does sushi so I was curious and tried it out. My server recommended the Rainbow Roll and the Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice which is what I ended up getting both. The roll was not my favorite - kind of bland no flavor really came through. I did like the crispy rice though so good recommendation from the server. Overall cool vibe and a good place for a group. Wasn't blown away by the service but they did a good job. read more

Culinary Dropout - Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice* - New American Near Me - Gilbert, Arizona

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Came here on a Tuesday night and had a fabulous time. I stopped by the bar for a happy hour glass of wine. Their happy hour goes till six and then I met up with the rest of my group. I ordered the salmon. We also had the onion dip and chips. All of my food was so tasty. Great experience overall. Staff was friendly, polite, and quick. You may have to wait for your reservation for a few minutes, but if happy hour is still going the bar is a great place to spend a little bit of time. read more

Culinary Dropout - Roasted Salmon* - New American Near Me - Gilbert, Arizona

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A very open environment, that is busy with ongoing events. The service staff is friendly, but very busy in this large restaurant not getting around much for refills etc. We had a table of four, and we were able to converse and enjoy our ourselves. while the establishment is a bit loud in general. Food fantastic and fresh. Parking was easy. read more

I could only wish we had something like this in SoCal. Our friends from AZ were raving about this place and we were so glad they took us here. Located in downtown Gilbert, this seems like the place to be on a Sunday. Live music, huge dining area - tons of very comfortable seating (couches for dining chairs!), private rooms for events, and a big patio with lawn games. The food here is *chef's kiss*... and I might have just ordered one of each item on the appetizer menu. BBQ nachos, hot wings, pretzel bites with beer cheese fondue, white truffle deviled eggs, popcorn shrimp, and a chopped chicken salad (for health) lol. Can't pick a favorite. We loved them all. The chopped chicken salad is a must - they don't skimp on the toppings. Beers on tap were all good - especially the IPAs. Good food. Good vibes. Great service. Reasonable pricing. We'd comeback here any day. read more

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it's been awhile since we've been here but pleasantly surprised that food is just as good as i remember years ago. we came specifically for the az restaurant week deal. for apps, we got the crispy brussels sprouts and cheese and pretzels, for the entree we both got the fried chicken and for dessert we got the monkey bread and mississippi mud pie (which was my favorite). everything was SO delicious just like we remember. we were seated right away when we came in on a saturday but we also had a reservation. noise level is pretty average, not too loud. our server was great as well. overall, we had a great time and will absolutely be back! please keep doing az restaurant week too! thank you! read more

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We absolutely loved this place!! Our local friends suggested Culinary Dropout. We loved the atmosphere. Every team member we encountered was super nice and informative. Our server, Cole, was outstanding! He had great suggestions and was one of the best servers I've ever had at a restaurant! Please thank him for taking such good care of us! The food was amazing. The Brussels sprout appetizer....delicious! We each had different entrees and each was perfect! The cocktails were amazing as well. We will absolutely visit again! read more

We ordered the nachos, charcuterie board, wings, Korean-style rib caps, steak and frites, and a few drinks. The Korean-style rib caps were a definite miss for us. If you're not a fan of very sweet dishes, I'd recommend skipping them. The sauce tasted more like candy syrup than a savory glaze, and the rice was overcooked. On the positive side, the steak and frites were cooked perfectly and ended up being one of our favorite dishes. We also enjoyed the wings and nachos, both of which were flavorful and well executed. The charcuterie board was fine, but not really worth it. The drinks were delicious, and the service was great throughout the meal. While not everything was a hit, there were enough positives. read more

**This review is specific to the Bar Blitzen holiday pop-up** 12/31/2025 My friend and I attended Bar Blitzen at Culinary Dropout a few years ago. The cocktails were pretty good, so we wanted to go again this year. We didn't get a chance to go around Christmas, so we made a reservation for New Year's Eve. It was a great chance to soak in more of the holiday magic with the cozy holiday decor and menu. Make sure you select the "experience" on your OpenTable reservation, otherwise it's the regular restaurant seating. When we got there, they gave us three options for seating - bar, high-top, or table. We sat at a high-top before, so this time we chose the bar. It was pretty slow at 8:30pm, but started to pick up around 9:30pm. The "Santa Snacks" menu said 4-7pm, but I saw food at one of the tables so I asked the bartender if we can still order food. She reluctantly said yes - I assume they made an exception since it was NYE. We never go to Culinary Dropout or Bar Blitzen without ordering the Soft Pretzels & Provolone Fondue. It's probably their best-selling menu item. I got the Espress Ho Ho Ho Tini - choice of tequila or vodka, Italian espresso liqueur, Spanish vanilla, and spice cold foam. The menu didn't say if it actually contains espresso or coffee, so I asked because it was kind of late to have caffeine. The bartender said it contains their house-made espresso syrup. The drink tasted great, a little sweet, and was topped with a pretty snowflake design (see attached photo). My friend didn't feel like drinking alcohol, and she drove, so she ordered a zero proof version. Her drink said "NO" on top instead of a snowflake - we laughed so hard. On top of the bar area were two screens, both playing an endless loop of a burning fireplace. The whole place had a nice, relaxing ambience. Very chill. We had a good time and would definitely come back again for the next pop-up! read more

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Culinary Dropout has my favorite Turkey Pastrami sandwich. I recommended it to my friend and it became his favorite too. The service was friendly and attentive. The restaurant decor is the best in Downtown Gilbert. It has high ceilings and well appointed furniture. There are large seating areas in the lounge and dining sections. It has a great indoor and outdoor ambiance. read more

Culinary Dropout - Turkey Pastrami Sandwich on a Pretzel Bun - New American Near Me - Gilbert, Arizona

This place was the worst dine out experience I've had of 2025 and ranked at the bottom of my list out of everywhere I ate on a 6 day trip to Arizona. I got the fried chicken and it was very dry, I could've gotten better fried chicken at KFC. Save your time and money and go literally anywhere else. We were a party of 5 and had a 6:15 PM reservation for a Wednesday night, which we checked in early for too, and didn't get seated till about 6:40 PM. We didn't get our food till 7:33 PM. They had a lot of open tables at the time too. Why take reservations when you don't honor them by having a table reserved and ready for service? The hostess was giving us attitude too when we checked back in with them around 6:30 PM to make sure we weren't forgotten or already called since we were waiting outside as there were a lot of people waiting inside too. The interior is dark, hip, has a bar, spacious, and nice ambiance for a sate night. Our waitress was a nice lady and attentive to our table. The table ordered drinks and then promptly ordered our food when the waitress swung back to us. It was a noticeable long wait for the food, most of the group had already finished their drinks before the food even came. I ordered the fried chicken because it was the most reviewed item on Yelp. It was very dry. The drumstick was the only one that was ok as it was a small drumstick, but not juicy by any means. The flavor for the fried chicken batter was there but the execution was not. I had to use hot sauce to get it down. I did really like the mash potatoes and biscuit it came with, delightful. The coleslaw was ok, it could've used a little more flavor and sauciness in my opinion. I had a bite of my friend's salmon and Cesar salad and it was decent. With the terrible experience with the hostess team, my dried fried chicken, and the slow speed for food to come out - I would not recommend this place and wouldn't come back. I would had consider coming back again to try their other dishes but the service was just that unacceptable and off putting. read more

Culinary Dropout - Fried Chicken & Buttermilk Biscuit - New American Near Me - Gilbert, Arizona

Food was mucho delicious. Bathrooms were very very nice and very jonklerifiable. The servers were also very nice to us even on a busy day. PAPATUI read more

Culinary Dropout - How jonklerifiable the bathrooms were - New American Near Me - Gilbert, Arizona

This is my 2nd year attending the pop up Bar Blitzen at Culinary Dropout. The decor is absolutely stunning and give such a cozy Christmas vibe. Reservations are required for a 1.5 hour time slot. The Nog on the Rooftop was the best eggnog I've had in my life. The Chopped Chicken Salad was DELICIOUS! I'd skip the Dropout & Mrs. Mint on a return trip. It tasted like straight vodka with a splash of vanilla and a sticky peppermint rim. read more

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First time here, initial impression is the place is huge. Have an indoor and outdoor area along with a bar and a well decorated party room. Ordered a salad and it was huge, definitely could be shared. Fresh ingredients and even had a devils egg in it. Pretzel was served with a beer cheese but no 5 grain or honey mustard. Service was steady and our server Anna was professional and quick to refill our drinks. I would certainly come back. read more

It was a Monday night with a fair amount of people there. Lots of things to talk about: ambiance, decor, cocktails, food, all good, but the service was Outstanding! If you're looking for a place that has a spot to keep active for adults and kids they have a great outdoor lawn space. The bar portion is huge to not make you feel like you're sitting on top of each other and the indoor dining room seats tables far enough away from one another to allow for a level of privacy. Not to mention it was all comfortable. The food was good and right priced. The cocktails were clever and ours were delicious. Parking structure was directly behind, but there also had a lane in front for convenient drop off. The gentleman we had as a server was a tall glass water and made to be in the hospitality industry. He just had that energy about him that engaged you in whatever he was saying. He paid enough attention, but not too much. He gave great recommendations. And he was a good and eager photographer taker. I watched him serve multiple tables and there didn't appear to be a frown in the room. $23 read more

Culinary Dropout - Spicy rigatoni. I don't like my mouth on fire. This was not that at all. It was culinary yumminess. $24 - New American Near Me - Gilbert, Arizona

We went for Arizona Restaurant Week and had a great time. Food was delicious (BBQ on the ribs was way too ketchup-y) but everything else was phenomenal. I'd like to go back and try them again, maybe it was an off day. read more

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My wife and I split a burger and salad. Server was extremely helpful with recommendations on food and drinks.

I had never dined in before and wanted to give it a try. A couple of people in my party had only visited the bar for drinks and the soft pretzel with provolone cheese--the pretzel and cheese were excellent, easily 5 stars. Unfortunately, the rest of the food didn't live up to that. The Caesar salad dressing was very lemon-forward, though the croutons were good. When our entrees arrived, the plating looked nice, but we were disappointed by the portion sizes of the Korean ribeye and the steak frites. It would be helpful if the menu indicated the expected ounces of meat, as some in our party left hungry. The fish and chips were well-seasoned, and the BBQ pork belly nachos were okay--the meat was very sweet, which didn't appeal to our nacho lovers. If you are a sports fan, you'll appreciate that they have TVs all around the restaurant with football games on. The music is relatively loud, so you'll need to speak a bit louder for your party to hear. Overall, our server was friendly and checked in on us, but the wait for entrees and desserts felt long, even on a slow night. I can't imagine how long it would take when it's busy. read more

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Stellar service, food was impeccable, drinks were perfectly crafted. I will definitely be returning in the future! read more

Culinary Dropout - Roasted salmon - New American Near Me - Gilbert, Arizona

Never came to this location but finally came to check it out.. Very spacious and had the game area like the other culinary dropouts like corn hole, ping pong, shuffle board.. Our waiter was attentive which I liked.. read more

We had agreed to not come back here after our last horrible service, but our son wanted this for his birthday so we agreed. Bad decision. It was a Sunday night so the place was not busy. We were seated quickly and the waiter stated he would be there soon. Soon was not soon. Another person also checked in as they saw us sitting there. Drink and appetizers ordered Same as last time no chips were available. Pretzels came out. No drinks. Deviled eggs came well past the initial app. We ordered dinner, MAC burger, fried chicken and pastrami sliders hubs and I split. The chicken was overdone, mashed potatoes were small enough to feed a toddler. He opted for fries vs the coleslaw and they gave him about 10. The pastrami sandwich was ediable and we enjoyed the limited fries that we were also allocated. The food was the worst presentation and quality was sub par. I honestly think the environment covers so much of the low quality food offerings. We tried it again hoping to have a better experience and sealed the deal for a never to return. PS. Stop using cubed ice in your old fashions. The price you charge is for quality and what you serve is not. read more

Culinary Dropout - Pastrami sandwich split with a small sample of dry fries. - New American Near Me - Gilbert, Arizona

I threw my 50th Birthday party last Friday at CD in Gilbert. 1920's/Great Gatsby themed. I rented out the back room. The events manager Tessa held my hand throughout the entire process from start to finish. It took many months of planning to throw the party and Tessa and her team were always available to answer my questions. The guests' loved the atmosphere, food, and drinks. The room was private and very intimate. If I turn 50 again, I'll have my next party there. Highly recommend!! Nikki was great too. read more

Culinary Dropout - 1926 or 2026? - New American Near Me - Gilbert, Arizona

We drove in from CA for a celebration of a great friend. We had dinner here on a Friday night (make reservations). It was lively and had a good vibe. There were 10 of us and they put us at a very comfortable round table. The menu was great. Both of my teenage boys enjoyed their meals (burger and chicken sands). I had crispy chicken tacos...yum! My hubby enjoyed his pasta as well. Our teenage kids left the table at some point and played games provided. The service was perfection. Thanks to Culinary Dropout for the start of a great weekend! read more

Went on a busy Friday night but had a reservation, so glad!! Still took them about 15 minutes to get us seated. Service was great, our waiter was right there and we got our drinks ordered. The menu is not huge. If you're looking for seafood the only option was salmon other than sushi. They have ribs, meatloaf fried chicken, fish n chips and a few other entrees. many sandwich options and sushi rolls. I ordered the fish n chips which came with fries. Cole slaw or you can sub out the slaw for a salad, which I did. The fish n chips were great. The dish was so moist and the portion was plenty. My husband for the salmon and enjoyed it. read more

Culinary Dropout - Salmon - New American Near Me - Gilbert, Arizona

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We learned of Culinary Dropout when our son-in-law told us about the first one they opened in Scottsdale. He drives for Uber and told us how he brought people there and they raved about the food. Culinary Dropout now has more locations in the Phoenix area plus a few in other states. Before visiting them, I suggested that we all go to the Gilbert location as it was the one that was closest to our hotel. We were here on a weeknight for an early dinner. Upon entering, it's hard to not notice that the dining area is cavernous. I can only imagine how noisy it gets when it's crowded. We were taken to a table that seats six. It took a while for our server to get to us and she had a trainee in tow. Our server was very knowledgeable when it came to the menu. I ordered the "Pub burger". It consists of: "havarti, bacon, mayo, house bbq sauce". For $3 extra one can order a fried egg to go along with the burger. I ordered mine cooked medium with no mayo (to me bbq sauce and mayo don't go together) plus I ordered a fried egg cooked over easy. This was an amazing burger---juicy and flavorful. If only the egg was cooked properly. It came out almost hard-cooked which was a bit of a letdown. Our son-in-law also ordered the Pub burger but without the egg. It was his first time trying havarti cheese. He, too, really liked his burger. One of our grandsons had the "Mac burger" which consists of: "double cheeseburger, onion, lettuce, pickle, 1000 island dressing". He also asked for an egg on his. Ironically, his egg was over easy even though he wanted it more hard cooked. Besides that, he liked the burger. Another grandson had "Fried chicken" which consists of: "buttermilk biscuit, smashed potatoes" plus gravy. He said he enjoyed his meal. The third grandson ordered "Crispy chicken Katsu" sandwich that consists of: "Japanese milk bread, spicy aioli, Napa slaw, hoisin". His sandwich looked so good plus he talked about how much he enjoyed eating it. My husband ordered "roasted salmon" which consists of: "sweet corn, toasted couscous, heirloom tomato and caper relish. He still talks about how much he enjoyed his meal. After we got home, we talked to them all and I asked of all the restaurants we tried this trip, which one was their favorite. The answer was unanimous...Culinary Dropout. read more

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This is our 4th culinary dropout experience, we have been to 3 in the PHX area. Those are by far the best! My son always gets the fried chicken and biscuits and loves it! I get different items each time. This time I got the Pasta Bolognese based on the server's suggestion and OmGggg it was sooo good. I ate every bit of it! The drinks were just okay. The mint pineapple jalapeño drink I got was wayyyyyy too spicy. It was wild. The servers are all super attractive like models in all the locations. It's a cool place to be! read more

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I love this spot for hanging out and grabbing appetizers. The service is always great, the outdoor area is awesome, and the inside is huge for large groups. But the food has become really lackluster. Nothing I've had feels worth the price anymore. Phoenix and Gilbert restaurants have stepped up while this place has only gotten more expensive. The steak Caesar I ordered was just okay, the meat was chewy, and the salad was drenched and soggy. Twenty one dollars for that? The space and drinks are the draw, but the food is overpriced and overrated. read more

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I am a culinary dropout fan, so this is probably a biased interview, but I try to remain as neutral as possible. Anyway, this is actually a review for both catering and dine in. I have visited this location a couple of times and each time I have been consistently greeted with great service, really prompt turn around on food orders and most of all, a really cool and chill environment. From a catering standpoint, we put a order in for several people right at opening time on a Friday and picked up the order in less than 30 minutes. Everything was made to specifications, packed correctly and ready to go. Definitely can't say enough about this operation. If you're interested in what dishes I like? I will need to write another review, but let's start with the fact that they have probably one of the better charcuterie board set ups in the city. I'm not a pretzel dude, but I love their pretzel appetizer and I'm a big fan of the fact that they have a couple of sushi rolls on the menu. I love the fried chicken, love the pastrami sandwich, and the pub burger And I almost always get the house fried fresh potato chips. Yeah, I'm a real fan. read more

We hosted a 50th birthday party at this location and had an absolutely amazing time. Our servers were on point all night and the food was delicious. It was an open house buffet style, so I'm sure it was a little nerve-racking for them since there were a lot of people moving around and coming and going. Our party planner was very communicative and their team did a wonderful job! read more

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We came here for a team meeting on the 11th at 2 PM and overall had a good time, but the service from our server really impacted the experience. Our server (I believe she had purple hair) was not friendly at all. When she first came by to take our order, we explained it was our first time there and that we needed a few minutes. When she returned, one of the women in our group--who we were celebrating for completing recovery--mentioned she was torn between a couple of menu items due to her medication. The server rolled her eyes and responded in a very rude, sarcastic tone. Several of us immediately noticed and looked at each other because it was so uncomfortable. Throughout the meal, she would come by and take our drinks and replace them without asking, but did so in a way that felt abrupt and annoyed rather than attentive. It honestly gave the impression that she did not want to be at work. When we asked for to-go boxes and bags for our group of six, she only brought three of each. My boss asked for the check twice, but she never returned. Eventually, an African-American gentleman walking by was waved down, and he kindly helped us with the check and additional boxes--we all agreed we wished he had been our server. The overall vibe felt rushed and unwelcoming, which was surprising considering we were one of the smaller groups seated between two large parties. That said, the food itself was mostly good. Everyone enjoyed their meals. I ordered the steak and frites--the steak was amazing, and I loved the mini salad it came with. Unfortunately, my fries were cold!!! The top fries was okay but after that the middle and bottom ones was over-crispy, and mostly ends, I didn't even even half of them , which was disappointing especially since it was the most expensive meal at the table ($40) and others received hot, full portions of fries with their sandwiches. Ironically, our group consists of general managers in retail, so we are very familiar with customer service. This experience fell short in that area. I would come back to the restaurant because of the food, but I would likely choose a different location due to the service experience and inconsistency. read more

Culinary Dropout - Steak Frites* - New American Near Me - Gilbert, Arizona

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We always have a good experience here they have a ton of unique options to try and eat and we always try a new appetizer when we go. Cheese pretzels are always great there, but I haven't tried anything that has been bad so you should be safe with anything on the menu! read more

Culinary Dropout - - - New American Near Me - Gilbert, Arizona

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Amazing food and loved sitting outdoors! Had the prime rib and Caesar and house salad. Great definitely recommend the rocky road ice cream for desert. So awesome! read more

I'll give it credit that the ambiance is great and the cocktails are tasty, but the food really let us down. Was here for a large company meal of 13 people and we all seemed to agree on a few things. The wings were terribly salty, and they did not get finished. The brussel sprouts while tasty were absolutely drenched in oil, guessing deep fried for too long or at a lower temp. Lastly the short rib bowl was FAR TOO SWEET, and the risotto or whatever it was sitting on was basically watery flavorless grits. A few also got burgers and reported they were just very plain run of the mill burgers. This place could really be a knockout, but they need to get it together in the kitchen as that part really put the place off my radar for the future. Maybe they can get some new direction in the kitchen and focus on dialing in their quality. read more

Culinary Dropout - MONGOLIAN SHORT RIB 25 Charred scallion, broccolini, soft egg, crispy rice, thai chili - New American Near Me - Gilbert, Arizona

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Been wanting to eat here, came with a group of friends. I felt really special since the waitress prioritized my drink over everyone else's lol. The drinks were good, the food was even better! I ordered the fried chicken and buttermilk biscuit.. it must've been good since I cleaned my plate!! Everything we ordered was really good. The crispy Brussels sprouts were really crispy and we really enjoyed them!! Our waitress always kept up with our water and drinks, despite how extremely busy this place was! We will definitely be coming back. Top notch service! read more

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Amazing place with wonderful food and drinks. My family booked it for a party and we all loved it. The service was excellent as well read more

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This experience was amazing! Our first time in and Cole suggested the pretzels bites and chicken tacos. We had excellent service, no wait, and an amazing birthday dinner for our son and the atmosphere is nice. Looooove this place! The food came out fast and delicious. The server was attentive and had AMAZING hospitality. I wish I took photos of the food, but it was too good not to dig into! Thanks again Cole! Can't wait to come back and try new items!! See you soon! read more

Stopped in for a company lunch and the staff was very friendly. We ordered the chicken wings and pretzel bites which were delicious. I ordered the pasta Bolognese which was okay, the pasta was a little over cooked and lacking a little flavor. My favorite part of the meal was the dessert! I ordered the soft served raspberry cheese cake ice cream and it was delicious. read more

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