The ambiance here is a little underwhelming, especially compared to the restaurant that was previously in this space. The decor lacks warmth, and it doesn't quite have the character the old spot had. Aside from that, the food is good! It is a sit down spot, but casual so you order from a kiosk and they bring you the food. I do think it's a solid option for a quick lunch break if you're short on time. Overall, it is good, just not a place I'd think of going back to. Worth trying once if you're in the area, but the vibe and price point aren't enough to pull me back for a repeat visit. read more

For The Win - Burgers Near Me - Alhambra, California

I dont have a picture of the fries but they were underdone and not crispy. Personally I think for the win prices are kind of expensive especially with all the options for smash burgers. It was good but nothing outstanding. Would only get if there was a deal. It's 50 cents for cheese and 50 cents for toppings. read more

For The Win - Cheeseburger - Burgers Near Me - Alhambra, California

Love this place, the food is great, the customer service is great, and them not using seed oils is the best part! But I just want to warn the gluten free community that their sauce has gluten, so if you order a gluten free burger make sure you don't get the signature sauce on it. I do wish they posted this somewhere or told customers when ordering gluten free, so we don't get sick. But other than that I really love this place! And do recommend. read more

We visited For The Win for Father's Day burgers, hoping for a better experience than last time. Service has improved slightly, but the initial greeting was barely noticeable. Signs directed us to order beer at the cashier, only to find out their taps were down, leaving just two canned option; neither appealing to us. That should have been our cue to go. We placed our food order at the kiosk and waited on uncomfortable bar stools in an uninviting space lacking both decor and warmth. By the time our food arrived, regret had already set in. On the plus side, the food was served hot and looked good. The brussels and sweet potato fries were decent, but the double burgers were just okay. One highlight: staff put on the World Cup match at our request, which was appreciated. Overall, though, I keep wanting to love this place, but it doesn't live up to expectations. Not sure I'll be back. read more

For The Win - Burgers Near Me - Alhambra, California

Highly recommend this place here in Alhambra Main Street. First time eating here and it was quite delicious! Indeed the best smash burgers in LA. Service was fast and efficient. You order at the self kiosk machine then pay and wait for your order to arrive. It took about less than 10 minutes because it wasn't a packed house, and that was good. The ambience here was quite nice. Same seating arrangement compared to the previous burger place here. There is just no self-serve soda fountain. All of the drinks are in cans or bottles and no refills. But overall, this place was five out of five for me. And would highly recommend this place to anyone interested on trying the best smash in LA. read more

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One of the best burgers I've had in a very long time if ever. You walk in order from the tablet and find a seat. They even have a counter top to eat at while your order gets made. The service is great because you order and do your thing while the chef does his and all is well. (For the "bad service" comments I don't think good service needs to be "extra happy" when customers come in. True service means they put their soul into what they do and that's this place simplicity at its finest a real burger joint with real people) keep it 100 Smashed Burger: it's a simple honest burger. It's the pinnacle of cheese burger with molten cheese and grilled onion. Expect third degree burns on your tongue if you don't wait a bit. But that's the best part when have you sat down and had a hot cheeseburger NEVER! Until here shoutout to the chef for perfecting such greatness. We added fries and a soda I wish I got the cheese fries because they looked so good. But that's for next time. (Price $10 a burger)($3extra for a double) well worth This place is legit W burgers read more

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The burgers are good but not a big fan of the sauce. Fries are nicely salted. Bought the fry's sauce & it's like an In-N-Out spread sauce packet. I didn't really like it & it tastes like it has some types of mustard or horseradish or strong oil Not sure if I was overcharged or the prices increased The service was fast though read more

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Always on the lookout for a great burger and have heard a lot about For The Win, but my experience here was a bit disappointing. The burgers are cooked nicely and the cheese is good - but their fry sauce is overwhelmingly sweet, they charge an additional price for everything apart from the buns and meat, the vibes are uninviting, and the staff don't seem to want to have anything to do with the customers.  We were meeting up with my SIL/MIL and were all craving burgers so we came here for our family dinner. The decor is minimalist, bare bones, and quite sterile - definitely not an inviting place to linger. There are giant order screens instead of registers at the counter and the staff are hiding back in the kitchen and constantly seemed busy and overwhelmed even when we needed help (we were the only customers). We eventually figured out our issues on our own and got our food ordered with no help from anyone. We ordered three single cheese burgers and one double with some loaded fries, water bottles and a chocolate shake - almost cost $80! If you want lettuce and tomato or even pickles - extra charge. Pretty much nickel and dime you for anything other than the meat and cheese lol. And forget about water cups - there aren't any water stations or anything so you're forced to get bottled water (yay more microplastics). The food took a while to prepare and when it came out, our shake was missing. I asked the staff about it and he seemed very annoyed - but I eventually got it.  The burgers were cooked decently - the meat and cheese have decent flavors but again, I was not a fan of how sweet their fry sauce was - it was overwhelming on both the burgers and the fries. I also asked for two extra sides of the sauce as I wasn't sure what to expect and they charge extra for that too ($3 for two sauces) lol. It's definitely not made in house - it came in pre packaged plastic like giant ketchup packets. Definitely wouldn't get this again. The fries were pretty good and the chocolate shake was nice - those were the wins of our experience. I was also taken aback that the self-order kiosk asks you for a tip - you self order, pick up your order yourself when they put it on the counter so you take it back to your table yourself, AND clean up after yourself - which is totally fine but what would we need to tip for?  The location is great - in the main core of the cute little downtown Alhambra area near the movie theater. Parking is easy in the garages nearby. The food isn't bad and I would come again if it wasn't so impersonal and expensive, but unfortunately based on this first experience I doubt we'll be back - definitely preferred it when it was Grill Em All. read more

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An old friend and I like to get around and see what our local independent restaurants are offering and this day we chose, For The Win (Alhambra). The location is located in a main business area with ample free parking nearby. Josh greeted and welcomed us, he recommended the double for a first-timer. It had great char flavors and everything came together well. read more

For The Win - Double Cheeseburger & Fries - Burgers Near Me - Alhambra, California

Alright burger place. Service was minimal and there were kiosk stations upfront to order on. Meal itself wasn't bad (a little on the salty side) but I was pretty surprised on how small their cheeseburger was being $8+. Asked staff for water cups which was denied. Overheard another patron after ask and also denied as well. read more

For The Win - Burgers Near Me - Alhambra, California

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3.5/5 stars We got the cheeseburger and sweet potato fries. The service was nice. The cheeseburger was good but it wasn't too special. Maybe because of the hype and the expectations was high. The cheeseburger only has pickles and onions. Lettuce and tomato are an additional price. It's a bit sad looking burger, but the meat is good. read more

We had a really great first time experience today! There was only one gentleman working today and he greeted everyone that came in! I told him it was our first time here and he warmly helped us out at the register. Explained what the burgers come with and sides options. We opted for 2 double cheeseburgers no add ons, and all fixings. Order of Brussels and dirty fries. OMG if I was younger I would throw down the burgers and fries so quick!!! The dirty fries had tons of grilled onions and their fry sauce. There was an option to add bacon bits but we decided against it since we were expecting our meal to be heavy already. I absolutely loved the dirty fries!!! It was an elevated more gourmet version of in n out animal fries. The smash burgers were made very well, nice char and crispy beef edges! Cheese fully melted, generous sauce, pickles n onions all in some sweet and soft toasted brioche buns! The buns were similar to Hawaiian bread. I had to eat with a fork and knife, I had already fumbled and dirtied my dress with the Brussels! Brussels I think we're just deep fried, I don't think there was any sauce or toppings on it yet the Brussels were not overly bitter. I was hoping they were going to help with offsetting the heaviness of the overall meal, but because it too was fried in beef tallow, everything ate overall super heavy and very rich. These aren't cheap, you are paying for quality and you will get quality foods! Despite the price I felt like it was worth it. I would definitely add veggies on my next visit and and and!!! I found out coconut Co is going to be their neighbor soon!!! It would be a perfect pairing to get a coconut drink to pair with my burger!!! I'm so excited for them to open!!! Man... Definitely get the dirty fries!!! I'm drooling just thinking about it! BYOB, there is no fountain drinks here only canned and bottled drinks. No ice no water refill station. read more

For The Win - Our already today. 2 double cheeseburger, dirty fries, and Brussels - Burgers Near Me - Alhambra, California

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I have to admit, this is a pretty good burger. They always say, "stick to what you're good at" and For The Win does just that - burgers. There's not much else on the menu, but when it's this good, there's no need for more. I will be back. read more

tl;dr the excellent, McDonald's-esque fries can't make up for the average smashburger; the expensive food isn't worth the premium Following the COVID-era smashburger trend, For the Win is a pandemic-borne pop-up from the mind of former fine-dining chef Santos Uy. Originally operating out of his Bib Gourmand-designated Papilles Bistro, FTW has since established multiple dedicated brick-and-mortar locations across Greater Los Angeles. While many burger aficionados lament that the quality has declined with the expansion, FTW remains routinely ranked among LA's top smashburgers. The relatively recent Alhambra outpost is located by the movie theater at the busy intersection of Garfield and Main. The interior decoration is pretty barebones. The concrete floors are polished, and the whitewashed walls have only orange-and-blue, FTW-specific decals. Up front, a handful of wooden tables are pressed up against a teal-upholstered booth. Further back, a diner-style counter peers directly into the open kitchen. The hum of the industrial refrigerator and sizzle from the grill overpower the low din of chatter. I originally was drawn to FTW for their lunch special: a cheeseburger, fries, and a drink for $9.99. Within about 10 minutes, I was presented with a cafeteria tray of food. The piping hot cheeseburger was mostly forgettable, from the flimsy potato roll bun, to the handful of snappy pickles, to the not-quite-juicy-and-not-quite-crispy patty, to FTW's overly sweet Thousand Island-adjacent fry sauce. The shoestring fries were a superior McDonald's dupe: excellently crispy, and the portion was the perfect size for sharing. The staff were friendly, and I was pleased to see my burger being cooked to order. Although I have never tried FTW during the pre-expansion days, I've confirmed during a return visit that the Alhambra location is middling as far as smash burgers go. Ultimately, the burgers are no more satisfying than a solid In-N-Out Double Double, but double the price; as such, I don't expect myself ever paying them a return visit. read more

For The Win - Cheeseburger - Burgers Near Me - Alhambra, California

Good smash burgers and perfectly cooked fries. The food came out quick and prices are reasonable for smash burgers. The staff was great too. read more

First time coming to this location. The manager Josh was very kind and helpful. The food was great and service. I would definitely come back and drive here for this location because of the service being so GREAT! Highly recommend coming to this location. read more

One of my favorite smash burgers! The burgers are incredibly flavorful, and you really get those perfectly crispy edges. The servers are always super friendly and quick with my orders. There's convenient parking nearby in the garage behind the movie theater or next to Dollar Tree. read more

For The Win - Burgers Near Me - Alhambra, California

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I wanted to post an update. About 2 weeks after the review we went back. We walked up to the front and asked the grill master if they are buttering and/or grilling the buns. The answer was unfortunately "sorry no", so we decided not to eat there. Michael, I hope this changes back but until it does, we won't be returning. This might work for the normal buns but not for the gluten free buns. Because of this, I can't give them four stars any longer. read more

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Sweet and simple, this is a great burger. Everything is cooked fresh and the staff always make an effort to welcome their customers. Not cheap by any stretch but the taste is worth it. Love their food! read more

For The Win - Triple smash with loaded fries and a chocolate shake. Better go for a walk after! - Burgers Near Me - Alhambra, California

My husband and I tried this place out on a Saturday night. It was about 1.5 hours from closing. It's an open kitchen and they have both table and bar seating. We opted to sit at the bar and watch the cook prepare our food. Your order from a kiosk (there's two in total), which I really like. The menu is small and simple; there's only a few options for burgers and sides. My husband ordered a double cheeseburger with fries and I ordered a double cheeseburger (lettuce wrapped) with brussel sprouts. Service was standard. They weren't friendly but they weren't rude either. And our food was delivered pretty quickly after ordering. I started with the brussel sprouts and they were really salty. It was so salty that after my first bite I had to immediately down my drink. They were pretty pricey so I forced myself to eat them but paired them with the lettuce wrapped around my burger to decrease the saltiness. I had the burger next. It was good but I wasn't a fan of the sauce. read more

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Love these burgers and fries but the Alhambra location makes you order through Doprdash which adds $4 more to each burger! Every other location you can order from the app but Alhambra is not on the app and only available on Doordash. I realized this and so I called only to be greeted with an AI voice on the order. No big deal as long as I get the normal price but when I arrived I was charged all the Doprdash prices. I talked to the employee and he said you can only use Dorrdash to order at that location. That's insane. We probably paid $40 more to eat at the Alhambra location than the others. We won't be going back. read more

To be honest, which is a phrase I hardly ever use. In this case it fits, "to be honest", I don't think I would have ever found this burger spot!!! However since going there, I think you should too. The fries are 10 out of 10 very fresh and the burger (mines without sauce) is a 10 out of 10 to my liking. The customer service is amazing. I walked in and the first worker I came in contact with had a very pleasant and inviting smile on her face. The other young lady is just a nice and was eager to serve. The manager showed me I was in a good place to enjoy good food along with good service. The amibiance with the great service and excellent food is why I'm sharing this spot you should visit. Also, I came home a reheated those fresh tasting fries and they still taste top notch read more

Love their smash burgers over here. I wish they had more signature drinks rather than the tap and the canned. Overall all A+ customer service. Very casual place. read more

For The Win - Cheeseburger - Burgers Near Me - Alhambra, California

Was super excited to try this place. Came in last night, about 20 minutes before my movie started next door. Wasn't too busy, so I figured we'd try it. Half way through ordering were told there's no grilled onions, bummed as I wanted to try the loaded fries. Whatever, moved on. After waiting 20 minutes, my burger comes out. With grilled onions ‍ and the peoples orders after me, had the loaded fries. Which was a complete let down. Secondly, the fries, it looked like we got the crumbs of what was left, broken fries, and clumps of fries stuck together. Lastly, staff was unorganized. Side tracked easily, and their vocabulary. All I could hear was G** damn this and G** damn that. Cook would text mid burgers. Unfortunately for the loss, sounds like a better name for this place. read more

TLDR: burger is tasty but seems overpriced for what it is. I'd give it a 4/5 stars overall if the double cheese burger was like $12 after tax: 5 star for the burger & 3 stars for the service. -- Came in on a Friday around 915pm. I ordered a double cheeseburger ($12.50) with tomato and lettuce added ($1) and it came out to $14.92 after taxes. The burger was good, crispy edges from the smash burger, well seasoned. The lettuce and tomato are a must to add more texture. It's just way too pricy to be $15 for a double smash burger imo. The service was mid. There were only two people in the restaurant including me. It took about 15 minutes to get my order. Maybe they were understaffed but there were only two workers but I could tell they were slammed with all the online orders coming in. The other customer who was waiting on his meal didn't get the sweet potato fries that he ordered because they made a mistake and had to wait for the sweet potato fries to be cooked (from frozen) and I ended up finishing my burger before his order was completed. Online orders weren't completed in the 15-20 minutes that I was there. After 9 pm they put the chairs up by the booth and only bar seating is available. read more

For The Win - Double Cheeseburger - Burgers Near Me - Alhambra, California

My husband and I came here for a quick bite after discovering it about a year ago near our favorite local movie theater. There's plenty of parking behind the former Rite Aid or the theater structure. We ordered two single cheeseburgers, they do them smash Burger style here, and a side of sweet potato fries. Everything was fresh and delicious. Sad to see it was a pretty slow night for the restaurant as we have seen businesses come and go from this place over the years and it would be a shame to see this place go too. If you're in the area, stop by and get some bomb burgers, the fry sauce doesn't disappoint either! read more

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A great spot for tasty smash burgers. I tried their Cheeseburger and the Chicken Sandwich. The meat patty of the Cheeseburger was flavorful and had a crispy exterior and a tender interior. The burger as a whole was delicious. The Chicken Sandwich was not bad but not amazing. I was expecting the chicken to be well fried and crispy but it was kind of soggy. It was well seasoned though. I also tried their fries which were good but pretty standard. Overall, their food is good and I'd come back mainly for their smash burgers but not much else. read more

For The Win - Cheeseburger (left), Chicken Sandwich (right) - Burgers Near Me - Alhambra, California

Great smash burgers! We ordered to go at the self service kiosk and the wait took a while. We ordered a regular smash burgers, a grilled cheese and 2 double cheese burgers. I had to eat their fries on the way home and it's so good and a great portion. Price is on the pricier side but the place is clean and free parking at the structure. This was my first time trying FTW. read more

For The Win - Burgers Near Me - Alhambra, California

There was a time when Smash Burgers were all the rage, so Chef Santos obsession with creating the ultimate American smash burger inspired him to open For the Win. I don't eat meat and never had a smash burger, so I don't understand the hype. I met up with a friend here. I was just going to order fries but the nice guy working behind the counter heard me mention that I don't eat meat and said that they could make me a grilled cheese. It was a nice gesture, so I ordered one with a side of sweet potato fries. My friend got the smash burger with cheese along with a side of sweet potato fries. The serving size was very generous. We could have shared one order. They were so good, especially when dipped in the Fry Sauce. The grilled cheese was basic. A few slices of American cheese on an inverted potato bun. The bread was exceptionally soft and had a chewy texture. Unfortunately, the cheese wasn't fully melted, so I took it home and cooked it some more in a pan until it was. It was much better. My friend enjoyed the smash burger. This place is spacious with counter seating and some tables along the wall. The music was enjoyable, and there is a free parking structure behind the movie theatre. read more

Just got the cheeseburger and it was pretty good. It was a little on the pricey side though but i would come again. I liked how I didnt need to ask for no tomatoes or lettuce. Seasoning was perfect and the fries were crispy and they give a hefty amount. I saw him scoop it from the bowl then poured the rest on top. Came here because we smelled something yummy when we were near the theatre. Put the order in the machine, workers call your name when it's ready and bring it to you. That's it. They dont have a soda dispenser so you'd have to buy the can or a bottle of water. Bathroom was also clean. read more

For The Win - Cheeseburger and fries - Burgers Near Me - Alhambra, California

Came in at around 7pm on a weekday and it was pretty much empty. They have a few tables and bar seating. There are 2 kiosks you can order from. We got two double patties and sweet potato fries. The burgers were good but I think smash burgers just aren't my thing. Nevertheless the flavors were on point! We got fry sauce to dip the sweet potato fries. The sauce costed extra which was unfortunate. If you don't want to pay for sauce the sweet potato fries were salted so it doesn't necessarily need the sauce. I will say to at least try it once because it was a good sauce. read more

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Great burgers and consistently flavorful. Price comes in just under an In N Out combo my double cheeseburger with jalapeños and the $5 beer special (through 2/28/26) was about $21 and change and worth it. Small bar setup with two taps (Paperback available), TV, restroom, and a prime spot near Regal and other hangouts. Solid stop for a burger and a beer. Service has been great so far. read more

For The Win has been on the list of places to try and finally did so. Walked in on a Sunday afternoon and noticed the place was empty. Was greeted and placed our through the cashier whom was very friendly. The food came out fairly quickly and I'll admit the burger was good but at $12.50 for a double cheeseburger with no lettuce or tomatoes and 2-3 pickles, I don't think I'll be back anytime soon. The fries and sweet potato fries were cooked perfectly. Was disappointed they don't even offer tap water so if you want a drink, it'll be $1.75 for a bottle of water or $2.75 for a can of soda. read more

For The Win - Burgers Near Me - Alhambra, California

From the jump the greeting everyone working is a plus and it makes you feel welcomed and comfortable to want to eat inside the establishment, the young cashier with the tattoos on her was super awesome very friendly with great recommendation on what to order since this was my first time order any type of smash burger and let me tell you it did not disappoint one bit! I ordered the double cheeseburger no pickles (allergies) and she was very amazing hooking me up with a complimentary Mexican Dr Pepper and Order of Their Delicious and not over shooting it but I mean delicious French fries they give that nostalgic old skool 1990's can't name the spot fry taste with the oil and seasoning taste and cooked to perfection and you'll know the feeling when you bite into it and your tongue lets that taste sink I. , and the burger let me tell you that thing was like butter nice soft brioche bun patties smashed with grilled onions to perfection got that White Castle taste but way better and of course way bigger! The inside is super tidy and very clean and all the employees are keeping tiptop for all the guest and from the looks of the menu like have beverages for the big kids 21+ lol. I highly recommend it give a shot the area is chill and calm and the people here will treat with great hospitality. Food 20/10 Service 20/10 Cleanliness 20/10 read more

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I love getting smash burgers in Southern California because the best ones are here and this burger was definitely a win. The patty was thin, crispy, and delicious. Their burger could have used more sauce and grilled onions but besides that it was great. Fries were also nice and crispy and seasoned well. I also got the Brussels Sprouts, they were pretty good but had some very burnt pieces, still there was this delicious addictive taste about them that kept making me take another bite. The place is very casual, you order yourself at the front counter and clean up after yourself. read more

For The Win - Double cheese burger with bacon - Burgers Near Me - Alhambra, California

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They're known for their smash burger which is what I got. In terms of flavor it's pretty good. The size is on the smaller size so you're paying more for the quality so that's something to keep in mind. The flavor is definitely there. The workers are nice and the area is also pretty chill although it can get busy. read more

Overall experience was good. The restaurant was bright and clean. Service was good. The burger and fries on the other hand were DELICIOUS! They're deliciously seasoned smash burgers . Fries were PERFECTLY salted and crispy! On a nice day there's cute little artsy places to sit outside and enjoy the weather and art work Tasted so good we went back for seconds the next week! Definitely recommend! Pro Vecho/Bon Appetite read more

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We ordered an order of Sweet potato fries, French fries and 2 cheeseburgers with lettuce and tomatoes. First off, the interior was very clean and spacious. We did not wait long for the food once we ordered from the kiosk. The staff members personally served our food to the table. The French fries were akin to McDonalds French fries minus the cardboard paper bag taste. It was nice and perfectly crispy. It kinda tastes like a Lays potato chip so that in itself was quite interesting. The sweet potato fries were pretty good as well. If I were to probably make a suggestion, probably would opt for a sugar coating instead of salt. The burgers, consisted of this nice butter soft brioche bun with a grilled onion smash burger. The highlight of the burger and honestly what stood out to me the most was the sauce they put in the burger. I have no idea what sauce it is but it is absolutely DELICIOUS. They sell the sauce on the side. This place is definitely worth trying! Thank you for the wonderful service and the delicious food we will come back and try the other stuff on the menu. read more

For The Win - Sweet potato fries, French fries, cheeseburgers. - Burgers Near Me - Alhambra, California

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They have an excellent smash burger here. I'd put it up against any other smash burger in L.A. I love the bun, cheese, sauce and the pickles. I also heard a few people ordering it without salt (for those of us with HBP) and heard it's still really good. I love the location, there's plenty of parking and seating. The guys working here seem really cool as well. Glad they opened a location in Alhambra! read more

I was in the area and remembered my prior visit and meal, so I decided to stop for a smash burger. You can order online for pickup or dine in. My food was ready when I arrived. It's a basic menu of burgers and fries (regular or sweet potato). I noticed this location did not list a patty melt or chicken sandwich that are available at their other locations. They may be able to whip up a patty melt since they do offer grilled cheese and burgers. It's worth asking for if you're interested. The smash patty was handmade, cooked to perfection with grilled onions, pickles, and their secret "fry" sauce on a potato bun $8, add $1 for cheese. This is a casual burger joint, clean, ample seating indoors and outside in the courtyard. It is located in the Renaissance Plaza, next to the Edward's IMAX movie theater. They've got you covered for lunch and dinner, open 7 days a week from 11AM-10PM. Enjoy and don't forget to tell'em that Rosemary sent ya! read more