Love Dante's! Years back my friends and I would come for happy hour all the time. Their drinks were amazing! And food of course was top notch! No doubt about that with Chef Ken Foy at the helm... multi Iron Chef of Tucson champ! Staff was and is always friendly and attentive. I can't believe it's closing! Last day is this Sunday. Before their doors closed one last time, my friends and I had to visit. I made reservations for dinner, but a couple of us went early to enjoy their famous happy hour at the bar. Like we used to. Their drinks are amazing. I loved the Mango "Mexican candy" martini! (I had two, maybe three!) Also, they've still got their 7 happy hour appetizers for $7 each special. We ordered the escargot, deviled eggs and Thai shrimp. The escargot was and always will be my favorite in addition to the jalapeño poppers (which we ordered at dinner as an appetizer). Finally got to dinner. I didn't get pictures of the other gals dishes, but the one friend and I from happy hour, although a little full, still went ahead and ordered something. She went with the clam chowder and I had one of their original specials, the Shrimp and Grits. That dish was so flavorful. Ugh, I wish I could come back and have more of the different entrees. I want to wish Ken and the staff good luck in all their future endeavors. I am sure we'll see them around the foodie scene for years to come! Thank you. read more

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My friend is still getting the lay of the Tucson land and had read about our Tucson Iron Chef, Ken Foy. We needed a Monday, late-ish dinner venue and this was open. Ashley was our bartender/server and advised that the Cucumber Martini was their most popular - a really lovely fusion of three different cucumber sources along with three types of citrus ($14). My friend gravitates towards good bourbons so she got the Pecan Old Fashioned ($14). Both were deeelicious. We were bummed to learn they were out of their famous escargot so we ordered the Wild Mushroom w/ Baked Brie ($17) - warm, savory, if a bit salty. Their incredible (dense, chewy) bread that is gratis with dinner ended up being a perfect pairing for the brie and Ashley readily brought us a second helping to help polish it off. We also split the Pappardelle Diablo entree (pasta with crab and chorizo in a pepper/cajun cream sauce - $31). As expected, it's a bit heavy-rich, with decent amounts of shredded crab and crumbled chorizo. We nearly closed the place down and, dutifully, left a gracious tip to our all-purpose hostess, bartender, waitress, and superwoman, Ashley. Parking is ample/free in their private lot and ambience is cozy. I read that Dante's might be pivoting to a more "local/bar" theme later this year, to include a simpler-foods menu and maybe even pool tables. I'm not sure that's going in the right direction, especially with Culinary Dropout across the street but then I appreciate the thin margins and challenging economy of running a restaurant. Whatever Ken does will be worth trying! read more

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Our meal and experience were enjoyable. Get the chicken Marsala- folks in our group that tried it loved that! Curry shrimp wasn't a strong flavor and while well cooked and light, was not especially impressive. Bread and olive oil were a nice appetizer touch. read more

I'm aware Dante's is about to close down for good due to the construction (however there is no construction on Grant there right now), but maybe someone will read this that is planning to go. The bartenders were overwhelmed and not friendly or welcoming. We sat for a long time being ignored. I had the spring mix salad with steak and although the salad had good flavor, the portion was small and the price was very high. The tiny steak tasted steamed and was cooked well done and had a lot of fat on it. It felt like they didn't care about the quality. They were busy and short staffed. It was loud and felt chaotic. Would not recommend. read more

Dante's continues to be a solid good restaurant. We had not been here in several years and it was just as good as we remember it. The food is good, service is good, and prices are good for the service and taste. We had a group of 6 who went in on a Saturday without reservations. All very impressive for a dinner in Tucson. We started with the focaccia which had great flavor, it was pretty-buttered which was too much for a few of us, but others loved the melted butter that had soaked into the warm fresh bread. All of us thought it was flavorful, soft with nicely toasted edges. We had an eclectic series of dishes, burger, chicken Marsala, tomato burata salad, butternut squash salad, and New England-style clam chowder. All of them were tasty with a good amount of food, worth the price. Everything was well prepared with good amounts of food. The style used French preparation with lots of butter and cream so the dishes were heavy, but very tasty. Service was quick, particularly for a large party and the staff were friendly. Overall a good night of food and friends! read more

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Dante's Fire might carry more local buzz than any other restaurant in Midtown. Known for its somewhat upscale Southwestern fusion dishes, and its appearances (and victories!) in some local food competitions, it's got many fans. I have some mixed feelings. What I love: Dante's is one of the few places left with a real happy hour. If you make it in before 6pm, there's an assortment of small bites for $7. There's more traditional bar food like sliders, but also some elevated small plates like Thai curry shrimp or escargot. The cocktail menu itself isn't mindblowing, but it's solid and during HH you can enjoy these beverages at 1/2 price. What I like: I am obsessed with some of these apps. The prosciutto & melon is an all-star dish that can serve as a satisfying small meal on its own. Easily the best thing on the menu I've tried. I also appreciate their take on jalapeno poppers, which are grilled, filled with asiago foam (rather than cream cheese), and topped with candied bacon. It does not taste like an actual popper, but it's still tasty! What needs work: Honestly, the atmosphere blows. You think you're going to get something a bit edgy and underworld-inspired, but it looks like a regular old sports bar with some red accents. When you walk in, it does not feel like you're in for anything special. And the food itself is tasty, but with the exception of what's featured in my photograph, it comes out sort of sloppy. Their famed burger, for example, is messy and will fall apart after the first bite; I would not order it again. Overall, I like the idea of small bites and cocktails here, but if I want to do something on the fancier side there are many options that put much more effort into presentation and ambiance. read more

My husband and I visited Dante's for the first time last week and were completely blown away. We started with the melon & prosciutto, which was light and flavorful. My husband got chicken marsala and I ordered the pappardelle diablo, which was absolutely amazing. I'd totally order it again, but I want to order everything else on the menu. The only negative was that the bread wasn't ready until we were leaving, so we missed out on that crusty goodness. Next time, maybe, since we'll definitely be back. read more

Dante's Fire - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Surprisingly Upscale Hidden Gem! Don't let the unassuming exterior fool you this place offers a surprisingly upscale experience inside. The decor is modern and stylish, creating a comfortable yet refined atmosphere. The menu features elevated cuisine for a bar. They have Foie Gras! During happy hour, we sampled the wings, sliders, and Thai shrimp. The wings were flavorful, the sliders juicy. I like the chef selection over the chorizo. The Thai shrimp had a delightful kick. The deviled eggs, however, were a bit heavy on the mustard for my taste. I like mustard but they only tasted like mustard no other flavor. The pecan old fashioned was a standout smooth, well-balanced, and a must-try for cocktail enthusiasts. Sadly I had to return it because there was a hair in it which I saw after a few sips. Our server, Theresa, was attentive and friendly, enhancing our dining experience. There's ample seating and parking, making it convenient for groups. It was a bit quiet for a Monday night, but that just meant quicker service and a relaxed vibe. I was a bit underwhelmed with this place. They offer an elevated menu and good happy hour specials. read more

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Our first time there and we got lucky because we got to meet Chef Ken Foy. We made it for happy hour, the cocktails were fabulous. We had the jalapeño poppers with some kind of foam on top. And the escargot was amazing. It looks like they're getting ready for Valentine's Day. I WOULD RECOMMEND read more

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We ordered the appetizer Tomato Burrata and Citrus for $14. The menu description is Burrata Cheese, Roasted Beets, Citrus, Herb Basil Vinaigrette, Tomato Foam. When the server brought it to the table she said "they were out of beets" and put down a plate that was the cheese and unripe tomato slices. We remarked that the reason we ordered it was because of the roasted beets. She shrugged. Granted, we should have sent it back, but server should have told us this before putting it on our table and not charged us the $14. read more

Came on a Friday night where they have their magic show in the back. The restaurant inside is nice and decorated all red. Had the Christmas Tree up too Our server was so funny and kind. He brought us our waters and delicious in house made bread. Got a bottle of Velvet Fire wine, shared their New England Clam Chowder. Split their Chicken Sandwich but got full off of the bread so saved it for later and was still pretty good! read more

Dante's Fire - New England Clam Chowder - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

We visited on Sunday night, and the restaurant was about a third full. We were pleasantly surprised to find out that they offer Happy Hour all day on Sundays, with specialty cocktails at half price--a fantastic deal. They also have some appetizer options for $7, which are slightly smaller versions of their regular-priced items. I loved the Happy Hour escargot and deviled eggs. The butternut squash salad was just okay--pretty plain with not much squash, and I should have asked for extra vinaigrette. On the other hand, I enjoyed the mixed greens and blue cheese salad. Both salads are generously sized, perfect for sharing with another person. Unfortunately, they no longer serve the beef carpaccio. The truffle risotto and sweet potato sides were both good. The roasted branzino was tasty, but it's hard to beat the Thai curry shrimp, which was more flavorful. As for the cocktails, the Cucumber Martini was delicious, and the Green Chili Margarita had a nice kick without being overly spicy and was very good as well. A Satisfied Woman was interesting but didn't win me over, and Only Fronds was a bit too bitter for my taste. read more

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Delicious and healthy food! I ordered the Butternut Squash Salad w/Salmon and Melon & Prosciutto. Both dishes were incredibly flavorful and healthy - best of both worlds! In addition, both dishes had such a unique flavor. The salmon was PERFECTLY cooked. Very yummy. I got my food togo through DoorDash so I can't speak about the service. I will say that the food was packaged very well and still looked nice. read more

Dante's Fire - Melon & Prosciutto - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Incredible food! The staff is very friendly and it was a nice ambience Saturday night. The food was very fresh and had the right amount of spices. Their homemade bread to start the meal was amazing. The ambience is nice and inviting and they've done a lot with an older building on Grant Road. read more

Dante's Fire - Sonoran Sweet Heat Chicken Sandwich - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Came here during happy hour. They have a seven dollar menu and some interesting things to choose from. I enjoyed my drinks. I had two of the rocky point Rita's and they were good! I Got the escargot, a side of fries, chef's special sliders (had two different kinds. I Was not a fan of either. Both were very dry, The meat and the bread. One was like a pulled chicken and the other was a thousand island burger type). also had the clam chowder and that was not bad. Service was good. Staff was very nice. They have a private dining area in the back. We had no reservation, and sat in the bar area at the high tops. read more

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I'm prefacing this review with the fact I came here for Sonoran Restaurant Week, so it may not be representative of their regular service. Firstly, the drinks were amazing! I had the What a Pear cocktail and it was delicious! Food was overall okay. The appetizers of the Poached Pear & Brie and the Petite Tomato Burrata were absolutely amazing! They also offered bread with a Balsalmic vinaigrette (?) and it was probably the best I've ever had. I could've just had the bread and the vinaigrette to dip it in and be fine all night! However the entrees were a bit of a let down after the spectacular appetizers. The breading on the chicken marsala was doughy and gummy, and you could definitely taste the wine in the sauce, and not in a good way. The risotto was the star of the dish. The pork belly was dry and lacked the miso flavor, but the mushrooms really saved this dish and added the needed flavor and texture. The strawberry & pear shortcake was also delicious, though, and definitely ended the night on a good note. Service was okay, but not the best. We went long periods of time between seeing our server, including waiting between courses, and I think she only checked on our drinks once the whole night. They did have their murder mystery dinner in the back room so I'm not sure if that caused the issues. The server was nice and friendly, but just wasn't very attentive. The interior was nice, clean, and had a very hip but upscale vibe. I'm personally not a huge fan of the way the two person tables were arranged, but that's a personal preference. Overall it was good experience, but I definitely expected more after hearing high praise for the restaurant. I'd definitely like to give it another chance and try their regular menu next time I come in. read more

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Food Service Ambiance We went to Dante's Fire as first-timers for a Tucson Foodie event. The food sampling was really REALLY good. For this particular event, the food sampling (buffet style) included burgers/sliders, a charcuterie board, stuffed jalapeños, and a couple other tasty samples. Yum! Yum! Yum! The service was disappointing. After getting our Tucson Foodie sampling, we sat down with the rest of our group who intended to order off the menu (I had called prior to make sure that was ok.) Apparently, they were short staffed for this event as the waitress seemed to have trouble checking in with all the tables. We waited patiently and ate slowly, while waiting to order and redeem our drink tickets. We noticed other tables doing the same and when those at one table finally spoke up and flagged the waitress down, she seemed annoyed and almost sarcastically expressed her frustration at not being able to take their drink order yet. After half an hour, we had finished our food and never got drinks or got to order for the other two in our group...so we awkwardly left to go get them food elsewhere. read more

Dante's Fire - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

There was a fly that wouldn't leave us alone and eventually landed in the blue cheese dressing for my chicken tenders. Everything was medium temperature at best nothing was hot. What did I have: hamburger sliders, chicken tenders curry shrimp the interval between the appetizer and the dinner was about 45 minutes. read more

Was so excited to try Dante's Fire after reading the reviews and hearing of their accolades. Unfortunately, our experience was not exceptional. They're known for their cocktails so I was happy they had NA options. Decided to try their Shirly Ginger, but from the presentation to the taste it was underwhelming. Expected the drink to be far less sweet and served in a cocktail glass with a garnish but was served a regular cup with way too much grenadine. Ordered the Chicken Marsala which was far too salty yet very bland. The risotto was so soupy it was a mess trying to eat with a fork, the foam didn't add any flavor and also contributed to the mushy texture. For the price, I expected better. Their team was nice and service was good, though everything took a while because they were clearly understaffed. I'm sad to say I don't think I'll return to this restaurant. read more

Dante's Fire - Chicken Marsala - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Do not go anywhere near this place on the nights they have "magical murder mystery theater" or whatever. Maybe they're good other nights but holy cow just don't. We were really excited to try it having watched the chef win Iron Chef Tucson a while back. Our experience was a disaster from start to finish. We had a 6:30 reservation. Apparently so did ~40 other people for the "show". You could tell from the moment that we were greeted that things were already sideways. The poor "host" (who was host, server, and bartender at points) was clearly already panicked. We sat down and observed utter chaos as all these people streamed into the back room. Sometime later we ordered with a harried server. It took 10+ minutes to get drink orders in. And then they took 20+ minute to arrive. (I liked the green chile margarita. See photo.) She was nice. We didn't fault her at that point. At some point much later she took our dinner order. She sort of apologized for the absurd delay on our drinks but didn't offer to make it right. We ordered salad, apps and mains. Fast forward a solid 30 minutes. I don't dare order another mixed drink. The salads and eggs eventually came (salads were weird but the eggs were good, see photo). Still no second drink. Staff are running around on fire. No one ever clears the salad or apps plates or empty drink glasses for the entire meal. See photo. Eventually we get our mains. My pappardelle was pretty good all told. My wife's entree was the hanger steak special. It was dramatically undercooked and I mean literally submerged in sauce. See photo. She didn't eat it. We sort of picked at the meal. No one checked in on us. Server eventually returns. Asks if we want anything else "right now". Doesn't note that my wife has hardly touched her entree. (Even a half-awake server in a decent joint should have noticed this.) Doesn't note that we're out of drinks. Doesn't ask about dessert. I reply "we're good." Ten minutes later, some other server brings us the check. (Did I mention that we want wanted dessert?) We paid (some other server) and gtfo. Look. I think there's creativity in the menu and I think the general vibe of food and bar is great, but someone please inform the management that you cannot handle events like this and keep up a regular service at the same time. The owner was nowhere to be seen on probably their biggest night. You have no dedicated bartender, your expedite window is IN THE BAR, and your kitchen is tiny. These are not bad things in and of themselves but you're trying too hard. Every single staff member was in the sh*t for the entire time we were there. This is no way to run a restaurant. I genuinely want to return. I think this is one of the most unique menus in Tucson. But omg it's gonna be a while and not on magical murder mystery night. Two stars because I saw some promise in the food. read more

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The website looks nice. The happy hour is appealing. However my buffalo chicken pieces looked like they were burn underneath the breading like older leftover chicken. My cocktail syrup drink had many grungy pieces in the syrup. On top of all this I heard the chief complain of ladies who were heavy. I don't plan to go back. Avoid!!!!!! read more

Dante's Fire - pecan old fashioned - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Had a cocktail at the bar and then went into the backroom for a magic show, comedy, and a murder mystery. Had a chicken dinner served during the show. Very enjoyable evening. Especially liked the magic. read more

First time trying this place. Has a vibe of a bar and not a fancy restaurant. Service was good but aoread thin. Interesting food choices not all expertly executed. Tuna lacked acid, cheese dish lacked cheese, bread dip too sweet, desert too heavy, risotto over cooked and undercooked at the same time. But the parts that worked were good. The drinks were tatsy yet a bit week. I may have given a 3rd star but it's over $100 for 2 people so my expectations are a but higher. It was a busy night and they seem hammered so i think it may be better another time. read more

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We ll come tonight for salads and sandwiches. We have reservations for four. Should be nice. Highly recommended. read more

This place is amazing for late night dining, ( All dining, but late night is waht attracted us first. )There is a magic show there sometimes....But that doesn't have anything to do with the food and ambiance. We ate at the bar both times we were here. It is so good. Everything we ordered was good. Very good cocktails as well. The bartenders ( we have come twice as I write this review ) are on it! they make amazing drinks and the dinner suggestions too were good. I also love that the bread here is freshly made. It is such a great place to eat. I will eat here again for sure. Very centrally located too, in a cool looking A frame building. read more

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I've driven by this place several times thinking it was some kind of supper club. Not that it's a bad thing, but this is so much more. Thanks to a generous Tucson Foodie voucher we planned a visit. Happy Hour: Best in Tucson that I have yet discovered; really offers good value no shortcuts for quality. Cocktails: excellent. Southwestern themed mostly but some other ones as well. Service: attentive and prompt. Regular menu: varied, something for everyone. Food: excellent elevated renditions of dishes you know you're going to like. Bonus: truffle risotto; even Gordon Ramsey would approve. Just to note, this is not really a romantic restaurant ambiance, don't know why I expected it to be. The price point is very reasonable. Will be back. read more

Incredible food in a surprising location! Iron chef level! A must taste in Tucson. Also, location of murder mystery magic show. Extra cost. read more

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We had an amazing dinner at Dante's Fire!!! Service was excellent!! The starters were delicious, OMG THE BAKED BRIE The entrees were over the top!!! 2 of us ordered the Chicken Masala with truffle risotto and asparagus, SO DAMN GOOD!! Hubbie had the pork belly, he ate every bite, he said it melted in his mouth portions are very generous, I had to get a box, & 2 days later when I heated up the leftovers in the microwave OMG, STILL!! SO DAMN GOOD!!! it actually made 3 meals for us..... the desserts were amazing too!!! We Can't wait to go back!!! Wish I'd taken photos read more

The service was good but my food was so-so. I had the diablo pasta with crab. The homemade pasta was good but there wasn't much crab and the cheese was almost cold. My son had the chorizo sliders and fries and he liked them very much. read more

Went for valentines day and it was a set menu which I didnt know when I made reservation. Price was crazy 85 dollars a person before drinks. Food was not good at all, service was good. I had 3 beers and girlfriend had 2 drinks and at the end bill was 240 dollars for food that I didnt not want for that price should be open menu. Will not go back read more

we had reservations and showed up. the restaurant sat walk in persons without reservations first and then said the only tables available were at the bar or a 2 person table by the front door and right next to the hostess stand despite a number of empty tables. I inquired about one of the open tables and was advised that they were being held for people with reservation. I told the manager that we had reservations but he said he did not care. I will never return given how rudely we were treated. By the way, when we went there several months ago the food was subpar. Stay away from this restaurant. read more

I truly LOVE Dante's vibe! The cocktails are crafted with Layers of harmonious perfection. Josh and Araceli made sure that our party stayed satisfied. Must try the Escargot THE BEST I've ever had! In house freshly made bread is divine. Girls night out..date night....happy hour..any freakin time..you are always in for a treat! read more

Dante's Fire - Mango Mexican Candy Martini - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Dante's is such a great place. Great food, even better cocktails. I was able to work out a deal to host a big group in the back room and they were incredibly accommodating. The server was lovely and managed the whole 20 of us with ease. It can be difficult to find a venue to accommodate a big group like this and Bruce was able to set it up no problem. Hoping to keep going back and will be telling all my friends to dine there! read more

Food was delicious! we tried 4 different apps Escargot, sliders, Brie and jalapeño poppers all were great. He made Crab cakes as a specialty that night that were loaded with crab. Ken even offered us a Birthday toast with his special tequila and whiskey! Made our night really special! read more

Dante's Fire - Birthday girls Carolyn and Julie, our husbands Steve and Alain and Chef Ken - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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I had been meaning to come to Dante's Fire for some time and we are glad we did! The service, vibe, and food was delicious. Also, the drinks are creative and yummy! I ended up getting a fun cocktail instead of my usual white wine and was not disappointed. We cannot wait to go back and sample more of the menu. Also, hoping to try the dinner and a show option at some point soon. read more

Dante's Fire - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

I returned to Dante's Fire for my birthday celebration. Everything was perfect. The flambé dessert was delicious and special. read more

Dante's Fire - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Our food was excellent. The jalapeño poppers had a gentle amount of heat. The blue cheese salad was served in a cucumber rimmed bowl, the sweet spicy chicken sandwich was well seasoned, the pasta dish was tasty, the T-town burger was well made as was the chicken marsala. The risotto was a bit bland. Our server Araceli was superb. She was always available to help when asked. We will return. read more

Yikes. Service is great but the food was a great let down. The buffalo tenders were super soggy and one of chicken pieces in the chicken Marsala was undercooked and the dish was overall too salty. I enjoyed the Diablo pasta (wasn't too spicy) but my drink was overly sweet. The waitress was nice enough to take it off the bill. This is a hard pass for the future. read more

Came here last Saturday 7-1-23 with my neighbor. I had a such a great experience and came again tonight 7-8-23 with my hubby for his birthday. We ordered appetizers from the happy hour menu which are $7.00 each and for our entree's we ordered Chicken Marsala and Pappardelle and requested them be spicy. Everything was very delicious including their house bread with seasoned olive oil. Our waitress was Araceli, she was wonderful and made our experience better. Dante's Fire is quickly becoming one of my favorite restaurants. read more

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Unfortunately it was not a very good eve.. I arrived a few minutes earlier than my date , sat at the bar and tried to order a drink.. it was busy and I was patient but finally asked if someone could take a drink order.. Then I was told by one of the bar attendants that the 2 paper napkins I was holding were only given when they brought a drink to the customer!! I couldn't believe that so asked him if he wanted them back!! The dinners were good but the amount was skimpy on both.. I called the restaurant the next day to share the experience with the manager but he did not return the call.. read more