Just left the express lunch. Very very good! The portions were just enough for lunch, the table side lobster bisque recommended by Christiana was very good! She was such a great hostess with spot on recommendations! My colleague and I can't wait to come back! read more

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This review is only for the downstairs area with live music, which is first come first served. Stopped by on a Saturday evening to hear Brazilian jazz. The band was good with a singer and 2 other musicians. The space is dark and small, with several tables (if you're ordering food), a couch area and high chair seating at the bar. I snagged a spot on the couch for a few minutes until the band took a break. It was nice and I would return. read more

dLeña - Shrimp and crab enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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We did the bottomless brunch here for my birthday and it was to die for. You can try anything on the menu! I can't wait to come back! All of the food we tried was amazing so it's hard to pick a favorite. I remember the tacos really stood out to me and the enchilada. I'm so happy I came by. The server was also very attentive and got our food to us quickly. The restaurant itself is also beautiful. Can't wait to return. read more

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I had the opportunity to try this place the other day, and I must say I am fully impressed. This is my first time in a Michelin-rated restaurant, and my experience was great. Dlena's burger was out of this world! The fries were even better. The service was outstanding, and the ambiance was incredible. I love this place and highly recommend it! read more

To begin, dLena has inspired me to start reviewing restaurants because it deserves the recognition. On that note, here is my first ever review!!! Perfect date night dinner!! We arrive a few minutes before our reservation at 5 and waited by the door to be let in since they open at 5! The two of us were seated in the side room at a corner circle table with a booth big enough for 4! Our server (I think her name was Rebecca) and her assistant were amazing and very tentative. The assistant greeted us with their house hibiscus juice, delicious. They checked to make sure we did not have any allergies first thing. We started with a mango flavor casa margarita and I got the Mercado. I was worried it may be too spicy but I asked our server and she said not too spicy unless you are not a fan of spice. She was right! I do not like super spicy and this was perfect. Definitely a unique drink so if you are thinking about it give it a try!!! I would give it an 8.5/10. Mango margarita was definitely sweet and very mango forward. We started with the wagyu empanadas and traditional guacamole, both 10/10. I will be dreaming of the empanadas every night for the near future. Getting full now, but for dinner I had the short rib tacos. Another 10/10. My boyfriend had the Wagyu Steak a la Piedra and loved it! The perfect elevated fajita, it comes with tortillas and guacamole, molcajete sauce (didn't know what that was but was delicious), and crema fresca. As a fajita fanatic, he said they were the best he has ever had. Brussel sprouts were great as well. Again, the server assistant was constantly checking our table and clearing what we were done with, and refilling water. Server also checked in after receiving every dish to make sure we were happy! Bathrooms were beautiful and clean. They are down the stairs. I came in saying I needed to get dessert, but by the end we were so stuffed. So if dessert if on your mind, plan accordingly. 2 appetizers and a meal are more than plenty for 2. I wish we lived closer to return sooner!!! This is definitely a must try place, and lives up to its reputation! read more

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Had such a lovely dinner here a few months ago! We sat in the speakeasy area downstairs and had so much fun! The food and margaritas were great, and the service was really quick. They had a band playing too, which was super fun. Highly suggest, especially for a date night! read more

dLeña - Short Rib Ribeye Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Great ambience, food, service and overall restaurant experience. Food was great and staff were very friendly and attentive. Restrooms were clean. On street parking only. read more

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Let's just say if I lived in DC I would probably eat here every weekend! One of the best meals I had all year! My service started off with a smile and was a good turnaround for my night since I tried to find a table of one at a nearby restaurant and I was told they don't see tables of one. Needless to say I moved right onto margaritas and guacamole and I was not disappointed! The vegetarian tacos were a 10 out of 10 and I highly recommend any vegetarian looking for a flavorful beautiful delicious dinner to try them! I sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful weather and the patio area was organized and clean overall it was a very enjoyable night and I look forward to coming back next time. I'm in town. read more

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I've been here twice now, once for dinner and once for brunch. Love the ambiance of this place, they really do try to have it be a whole vibe. The food is really good! Though to be totally honesty, nothing incredible or super memorable. I only say this because this place has so much hype, so maybe it was a little short of my very high expectations... but again, still delicious and no complaints! Service is good, I made a last minute change to my reservation and they accommodated me without any issues. I will say... disappointing Bloody Mary, small portion, needed more flavor, and it had a pure salt rim (?) and no garnish (!)... not even a single celery!! That being said, still would definitely without question highly recommend this spot for upscale Mexican/latin cuisine read more

On a Tuesday, a friend of mine and I walked into dLena to their basement mezcal bar. They don't take reservations, but we easily got a table. The entire space is slick. The menu includes mezcal and tequila cocktails and even flights. Their full food menu is available by request. Hungry, I ordered their guacamole and corn empanadas. Both were good, but the corn empanadas were the winners. Their version of a margaritas refreshing! read more

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Troy is an absolutly amazing server. Despite living in DC for a long time we'd never been to dLeña. We visited for brunch and had an amazing time. The steak is delicious. Troy always makes sure your drinks are full and our orders are coming out as requested. The brunch menu is diverse and has something for everyone. My wife is a vegetarian and there are a good amount of brunch options for her. The restaurant is pretty. They also took some time to make their outdoor patio feel like a special space. Accessbility: The restaurant could be better. The entrance can be very tight, so it can be hard to get into. The restrooms are downstairs. I'm not sure if there is an elevator or not but it isn't ideal. read more

dLeña - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Went for lunch here over the holiday and tried the three course tasting experience. My favorite dish was the barbacoa tacos by far. I'd go back just for those. They were accommodating to remove the peanut sauce for my allergy. For the app I had the chicken empanadas which was good but not what I expected. There was mostly just cheese and a couple small pieces of chicken. So I wouldn't order them again unless I wanted lots of cheese that day. I also thought the dessert wasn't that good. read more

dLeña - Dessert - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Gorgeous ambiance serving up very tasty Mexican food. I came while visiting DC over a long weekend and still think about the short rib tacos every so often. A must order. The Wagyu empanadas were also delicious!! Service was ok, nothing too great but it let us enjoy our meal over a long time frame opposed to feeling rushed. If I would recommend 1 place in DC and you like Mexican, check this place out. More of a nice dinner or special occasion spot. read more

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Well I have mixed feelings about this restaurant. I saw a lot of reviews so I expected it to be good well it was below average. The appetizers are amazing only reason this isn't 1/2 stars. Tasty appetizers. Now the main dish. I got wagyu steak and lamb. I was expecting some really nice stuff but it was just below average. The wagyu steak felt like it was going through a spice crisis. The lamb wasn't nice. I don't even know how to explain it. The main dish I got wasn't really what i expected and I am disappointed. This is the first time a restaurant messes up steak. I don't even know how to feel. Just disappointed. There was no taste in the lamb shank and wagyu steak. They somehow found a way to ruin desert. Yes I do have a sweet tooth but they found a way to make desert not sweet. Waiter was super nice and pretty cool spot read more

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I'm always on the hunt for a good lunch deal that I can go to with coworkers. Good food at a good price point (but still in a fancier setting) is hard to find. Thankfully, dLeña really hit the mark with their $28 express lunch menu! While I've been here before for dinner and remember really loving their tuna guacamole, I was really excited to try their other lunch express menu. They offer it during the week from 11-3 PM. For my appetizer, I got the ceviche Amarillo, which was the perfect punchy sour I needed before my hearty Medio Pollo al Carbón. The chicken is seasoned well and very moist. It was served atop grilled broccolini, which is my favorite preparation style for vegetables! I didn't love the dessert options and chose their corn cake. It just wasn't my favorite flavor and was more savory than I was expecting for a dessert. Our server was really nice but we did have to occasionally flag him down. read more

dLeña - Medio Pollo al Carbon** - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Great bottomless brunch! On the pricier side than most bottomless brunches I have been to, but the food was good so the value was there. We came here on a Saturday with a reservation and the overall vibe of the restaurant was clean, open and friendly. The bottomless brunch lasts for two hours once you get seated and everyone at the table has to do bottomless as a group. My two favorite dishes were the salmon and the steak and eggs. Both were cooked wonderfully, and I kept ordering multiple servings. Our friend had some dietary restrictions and I felt that she was a little limited on her experience but overall the experience was still great and we spoke to a manager about that who was very receptive to our feedback. I will definitely be returning. I'm interested to see their non-brunch menu items and just how things are at a different time at the restaurant. Great for a bigger parties, but I think they have a private room. You can go to if you have a gigantic party. Thanks dLeña. read more

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Went here for ultimate brunch with my mom. The waitresses and the front staff were friendly. There was just a bit of a 10 minute wait as it was crowded ,but the host is at the front named Ashley was really nice and offered to provide us our first cocktails before we sat down. After we sipped our drinks, we were escorted to our booth. We chose the unlimited brunch and alcohol option. There is a two hour time limit and if you get food and drink at $69 per person. after two or three mimosas, you will start to feel the effects, but I think for the price of $69 it was worth it , the maymay mimosa was my favorite. If you want anything à la carte that is a separate charge me and my mom decided to get the pork belly guacamole, It was just OK. I recommend just ordering the original guacamole. We also ordered different stuff off the menu. Out of everything we ate I think the tacos and the Elote were my favorite nicely seasoned smoky imperfectly spiced. The other food options such as the brisket and Caesar salad were just a little bit bland, but I do like with the menu you can order as much as you want so you can always get something different. I will say the ambience was beautiful. They had a lot of lights and a cute stairway down to the bathroom. I think I would come back here for their dinner menu I think that will be more expansive than their brunch but you can see why this place is so popular to its beauty and the staff. read more

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Okay so I've been a handful of times... once for lunch with coworkers, once for the 'speakeasy' experience, and most recently, the chef's table for someone's birthday! I've had my fair share of their dips, tacos, ceviche, and other miscellaneous items. But by far, the most memorable experience was the 8-course chef's table that I absolutely do not want to spoil. But I loved how we got to sit behind the big bar and have a front seat to the kitchen with all of the colorful dishes coming out. The executive chef talked to us, was super friendly, and walked us through everything we would experience. I am inspired to experience other chef's tables now, and if you haven't tried this one yet... do it. It's 8 courses, but if you are hungry, you won't be overwhelmed. They have an additional drink pairing you can add, but I decided to just stick to alvarinho which was delightful. dLena is a huge restaurant, but it fills up! So I would recommend making a reservation... and if you want to get to experience downstairs... keep your party small and try to avoid peak times. You're in for a treat! read more

My friend had hyped up dLeña so much, I was super excited to check it out! We had made a reservation for Sunday evening, but ended up showing up early and getting seated with no issue. The interior decor looked really nice, but I didn't get to see much of it, since we sat in the (dog-friendly) outdoor area. For drinks, I got a glass of the La Posta Pizzela Malbec, which was fantastic. This was my kind of wine! My friend and I also shared the Tuna Guacamole. The avocado was super fresh and I liked the spicy tuna chunks and tortilla chips. For my entree, I chose the Short Rib Tacos, which our server advised was the most popular taco dish. I really wanted to like these, but sadly they weren't my favorite. The way the peanut flavor mixed with the citrus just didn't seem to work, and consistency was overall slightly mushy. However, I loved my friend's Ensalada de Kale. The smoky flavor of the manchego was so good with the caramelized pumpkin and crunchy agave almonds. I'd totally return to dLeña to try some different items in the future! read more

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Bottomless brunch is very very difficult to accommodate for people with allergies or food preferences. They were so confused about what each dish contained and definitely brought me items with pork in them as a vegetarian. Drinks were bad. read more

dLeña - Birria de Hongos, Wagyu Steak a la Piedra* - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I recently got a chance to try the chef's table at DLeña with my wife. We had such a great experience. Our host and the chef did a great job outlining and presenting each course of their menu. It was a very exclusive dining experience. My wife and I had our own table facing the kitchen and we got to see different dishes coming out that weren't necessarily ours. Aesthetically, Dlena is a beautiful restaurant and has a very romantic feel to it. read more

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Had a lovely dinner date at dLena--definitely a cute spot with a great vibe, perfect for a night out. The ambiance is stylish yet cozy, and the service was attentive and welcoming from start to finish. One of the best things about dLena is the appetizer selection--there are so many great options, you could easily build a full meal just by sampling a few. I started with the guacamole, which had a great texture and was nicely balanced with acidity--super fresh and flavorful. For my main, I went with the branzino, which was delicious. It was perfectly cooked, tender, and seasoned beautifully. I really appreciated that it was served completely deboned--no hassle, just great food. The accompanying slaw and avocado made assembling little tacos a fun, interactive part of the meal. I also tried their green juice, which was interesting. A bit heavy on the celery juice, but still refreshing and a nice palate cleanser. One heads-up: they do require at least half of your party to be present before seating, so make sure you coordinate arrival times or you'll be waiting around. read more

dLeña - Guacamole** - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Thanks to IG, my friend and I decided to have brunch here and I'm glad we did. The space is large and warm at the same time, with a very large covered patio space. The bar area is also a good size and doesn't overwhelm the space. The hostesses are super friendly and our server was great. He answered our questions and gave us recommendations when we asked. We decided to do the unlimited brunch. I appreciated that each dish was served with two servings which made for easy sharing. The variety is great and each dish could stand on its own. Do yourself a favor and go in to try as many dishes as you can. There is a 2 hour limit, as stated on the website and, while 2 hours flies by when you're with friends, it's a reasonable amount of time. I'd been to places where 1.5 hours is the max and that extra half hour is everything. read more

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First timer at Dlena and the ambience and decor was beautiful. I was greeted at the wait stand by staff but couldn't sit at my table until most of my party had arrived which is typical at a lot of restaurants. Once seated, I ordered the short rib tacos which were tender and well seasoned. I also had the traditional guac which was tasty but the portion was not worth the price point to me. After, I headed to the speakeasy downstairs and listened to music and got drinks. Overall, I would likely come back. I would definitely recommend booking a reservation but it was packed. read more

dLeña - Short rib tacos - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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1000/10. I LOVE Mexican food! I live for tacos lol, so when I tell you it was good, I mean it. Taste buds galore. This was the BEST queso fundido I have ever had so far in life, and trust me, I've had my fair share. The smoky flavor and the richness of the cheese--you can tell no corners were cut. My mouth is watering as I write this because I cannot wait to go back! Chef's kiss. read more

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Days later and I am still thinking about this place. Hands down one of the best meals I've had, with the rest of my group agreeing. The atmosphere is modern and cozy. Service was great. Food was incredible. The crab guacamole, bone marrow pulpo, wagyu fajitas and branzino were all 10/10. Can't wait for my next trip to DC to eat here again. read more

dLeña - Bone Negra Modelo - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Went a couple of weeks back to experience their bottomless brunch with a friend. The hostess was extremely nice and the staff seated us quickly as we made a reservation. This place is definitely a popular destination because it was packed to the brim which added a nice, lively vibe to the environment. The bottomless brunch is for food and drinks. The food is offered in small portion sizes, but endless refills that can shared comfortably between 2 people. The fruit cocktail was the freshest item on the menu and it a great starter. The best was the small sized chicken and waffles and the steak and eggs. If I did not have to keep flagging down the waitress to ask for a refill on our mimosas, I would have rated this place 5 stars! I think our waitress was overwhelmed with other tables that day, so I will not hold it against the restaurant as a whole. Will definitely be coming back! read more

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Beautiful intimate speak easy downstairs of the restaurant with live music starting at 7p. They have the same food menu as the main restaurant which is awesome compared to other speak easy places where they don't have a food menu. The drinks are to die for. I ordered bartender omakase and they always get it right. Everything was amazing, and their prices are very reasonable. read more

dLeña - Complimentary birthday dessert - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Book in advance and if you are a party of more than 4 you will need to call to make a reservation. They actually bring out all of the bottomless brunch menu items so it comes in courses but they did ask us if there is anything we definitely did not want to eat so I think you can kinda customize. From there, you can order whatever else you want as part of the price but its a lot of food when you go through the whole menu we were super full (but still orders a few extra of our favs). Overall, some items were good, some were ok, nothing amazing but a great deal for the price and how much food we got! Seasonal fruit cocktail - actually one of my favorites items. we ordered another because its so refreshing and a great way to cleanse your palette after all the heavier food. The fruit was super sweet and ripe, put together in a yellow, super fluffy and light and sour mousse. 5/5 DLena Caesar Salad - Not a salad person but it was cheese heavy which made it better than most salads. 2/5 Shrimp Aguachile - Has a slight kick, shrimp is soft, seasoning is tasty! 3.25/5 Mahi mahi ceviche - Refreshing and tasty! 3/5 birria beef tacos - Birria is soft, tender and flavorful, very slightly dry but still good overall! Would've ordered more if i had room. 3.5/5 Tacos campechanos - Meat was soft and the overall mix of ingredients was good! Would've ordered more if i had room. 3.5/5 Tacos de champinon - The mushroom is seasoned a bit sour (or maybe i squeezed a bit too much lime). the mix of flavors was not my type. 2/5 La baja fish taco - Actually pretty good too! not fishy at all, crispy and good. 3.25/5 Enfrijochiladas - Black bean sauce on top is interesting but overall was still pretty tasty. 2.75/5 Steak and eggs - My steak was good and cooked medium rare but some of my friends at the table had theirs more like well done so i don't think its consistent. If cooked like mine, it was very good! soft and juicy, love the sauce on top, and everything together was great. 3.5/5 Huevos rancheros - not a big fan. 2/5 dlena cripsy chicken waffle - The chicken needs to be bigger, it doesnt cover the whole waffle lol. good seasoning on the chicken but this either needs a fluffier, moister waffle or some like syrup since it felt a bit dry. With some slight tweaks couldve been really good but as it its pretty decent. 3/5 cazuela - like a slightly more flavorful/seasoned potao and eggs. 3/5 carnitas skillet - i love how cooked and cripsy it was, the flavor was good, but its very oily. Needs something to lighten it or soak up the oil. 3.25/5 Chilaquiles & Cecina - Friends liked this I was too full/saving room for the other items but had a bit and tasted normal. Zarandeado salmon - About average but i was also super full. 2.5/5 Grilled street corn - Strong and heavy seasoning but more yummy the more you eat. 3/5 Churros - Actually really good, we ordered extra of this! Its more fluffy and chewy. 3.5/5 read more

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Beautiful space with modern decor. Friendly staff and good vibes. Cocktails were fresh and well balanced. Empanadas were a 10/10. Cheesy, crispy and flavorful. The fish tacos left much to be desired. The "fish" resembled a fish stick, but half the size. The final desert course, strawberry gelato, was beautifully presented and absolutely delicious. read more

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We had a friend s birthday party with a big group , all good , from ambience , food quality , service , interior is stylish , creative menu , yummy taste . The B1 jazz band was another pleasant surprise. The whole vibe of the bar, the vocals, the trumpet, and the keyboard incredibly amazing . On my must come back list read more

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I recently celebrated my birthday dinner here and I wasn't exactly sure what to expect. I originally was considering Pineapple and Pearls. But due to the high cost, and some majorly high spending lately, I decided to scale it back. That's when I found dLena's Chef's Table experience. It still isn't cheap. But not as pricey as Pineapple and Pearls. The Chef's Table is such a great time. You get your private booth that faces right into the kitchen, located on the main dining floor. There is just 1 table per seating times (around 5 pm or 8 pm). We chose the later time and loved the energy. Multiple courses are served, most of which are flambé, smoked or finished right before you. The service was great, and the chef comes out and explains each course. Unlike other tasting menus, these portions are fairly hefty. You won't leave hungry. The evening even ends with a gift at the end. The wine menu is fantastic. I was thrilled to see offerings from Mexico's wine country Valle de Guadalupe. This spot was one of my go-to places when I lived on the West Coast. It's not a popular region. In fact, many people even in Southern California are not aware. I was very happy with this birthday dinner choice. It was a great night out and felt special. read more

Love, love, love and highly recommend dinner at Dlena. The food was timed perfectly, and everything was so hot and fresh. My particular favorites were the corn empanadas, which had amazing flavor, and the tamarindo margarita, which was delightfully fresh. I have been several times for dinner and always provided a truly wonderful experience. After, we popped downstairs to listen to live music. I have dined here for brunch and would not recommend. My experience was very rushed and not great. The food was also not memorable. read more

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Such a good brunch spot! A great dinner spot as well, especially with the speakeasy! Staff is amazing and friendly and the vibes are immaculate! I never turn down the chance to go here because it's that good ‍ read more

A really great upscale, modern Mexican spot that cooks mostly on open fire (so the seafood is killer) and has a really awesome tequila/mezcal selection! The staff is super kind and welcoming and our waitress had great food recommendations. We started with the Maryland Crab Guacamole, which was a great portion size of crab and the guacamole itself was good too. The Hot Stone Wagyu is for sure a must order! You cook it on your table with a little hot stone and the sides it comes with were awesome. We also had the Ceviche Amarillo, which was a large portion size too and very good. The Birria de Hongos (a biria made with mushrooms) which wasn't my cup of tea but I did enjoy one! My favorite entree food was for sure the Grilled Oaxacan Shrimp! So incredible, I could have eaten multiple plates of it. Another favorite was dessert, a special they had that was a tres leches tiramisu! So, so incredible! Everything was really great and I look forward to coming back and trying their mezcal lounge downstairs! read more

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What a beautiful space inside both the lounge and the restaurant! Super vibey. Service was very attentive. The food was great for restaurant week except for a dish or two that was made in a rush. I would totally come back and try the regular menu. The queso fundido with mushrooms was delicious and a big serving size. The wagyu empanadas were also so yummy! The branzino was sooo good, definitely a highlight of the whole meal and some of the best fish I have had in months. The seafood enchiladas were just ok, the sauce tasted better than the actual filling. For dessert we tried the corn cake which was so unique and really yummy. I'm glad this was a smaller serving size. The creme brûlée was not finished and was too sweet from the syrup they didn't finish flaming. The drinks were also way too sweet. However, everything else was so good! read more

We decided to stop in for dinner without a reservation. We were invited to head downstairs to the lounge which had live music playing. It was like a speakeasy and such a pleasant surprise. The food and atmosphere was fantastic and the overall experience was terrific. Special thanks to Rasheed who took such good care of us. We ordered multiple appetizers and a few entrees too. He was so patient and each dish showed up right on time so we could comfortably pace ourselves at the cozy corner table. Thanks for a wonderful evening - we will be back!! read more

This is such a cute spot: I was the first person there and waited for them to open. I heard so many good things about them that I wanted to make sure I could try it. I ordered a few Mercados. Very tasty! Definitely give it a try. The tacos were not that good to me. I was disappointed with that. The potato was the star. I'm really glad I ordered it. I will visit again when I'm hungrier so that I can try other dishes that are more filling. read more

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Everything was great and clean . The food was good ... I felt like they needed more sides maybe a white rice but other than that all good .. I am a stickler for clean bathrooms and it did not disappoint .. read more