This place as of 7/21/25 is now called Gaucho, remodeled Argentinian restaurant. And boy is it an upgrade!! From the moment we walked in, we knew we were in for a treat! The place looks beautiful and fancy, the wine wall looks gorgeous along with the chandeliers! The swirl staircase leads to where live musicians play overlooking the clients. The saxophonist was outstanding tonight! The food was beautifully presented and amazing, full of flavor and culture! The service was outstanding, from the waiter to the bartender to the manager, all came to our table to ask our thoughts on food, drinks and restaurant! This is probably my first 5 Star review for a restaurant in El Paso! Well done? We will definitely return! read more

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(4.5/5) Can't believe I just now experienced Garufa for the first time as an El Pasoan. I had a friend dinner to attend with my partner and upon arrival I was surprised to see that a steakhouse resided within. This two story restaurant has a main dining floor and bar on the first floor and a semi-private balcony/event space on the second floor. The staff here is super attentive and I really enjoyed the dimly lit environment. Hearing live vocals from a vocalist was such a nice touch and really made it feel so romantic. Garufa's menu features different cuts of steak, pastas, empanadas, salads, sides, and a few small bites. Their empanadas are so freaking delicious (a bit pricey) and arrive cut up in halves. Their signature cheese empanada was super scrumptious and the crust was flaky with each bite feeling airy. My partner and I shared the alfredo pasta with their freshly made alfredo sauce and pasta, one of their steaks (16oz but can't recall the cut), and a few of their sides. WOW - everything was so dang good and I honestly could've get enough of the mashed potatoes and sauteed mushrooms. I wish they had a few zero proof cocktails but perhaps that'll change by the next time I go back. All in all everything was super good and I had a great time! read more

Very nice ambience. Food was delicious but pricey. Live music, would recommend for special occasions read more

Garufa - Delicious pasta with salmon - Argentine Near Me - El Paso, Texas

This was by far the biggest piece of salmon that I have ever eaten. It was cooked perfectly with a crust on top. The sauce was delicious. The veggies I wish had more squash rather than peppers but still good. Everyone at the table was surprised at the size of the fish. I thought the crapes were good for 2 people and not over the top with the dulce de leche. It would have been nice with some chopped strawberries. I have to go back to take the wifey. Reason for not the 5 was the service. Empty dining room and we had to wave down the server for more water. read more

Garufa - Beurre Blanc Salmon w mixed vegetables - Argentine Near Me - El Paso, Texas

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Fatty cut of steak under seasoned for $50 ?? Don't think so . If u want really good steak go to the real steak restaurant and not this wanna be steak house read more

Argentinian food is up there with some of my favorites since it's a wonderful blend of Mediterranean influences brought by Italian and Spanish colonies and then their criollo descendants. The cuisine is heavily meat centric and they're known for their asado, chimichurri, and empanadas. Luckily for us, in El Paso, Garufa brings the high end versions and they do it well. I met up with some friends and we had the best time catching up and enjoying the lunch menu at Garufa, which is a steal of a deal. For $22 you get a starter (soup or salad), a main entree, and dessert. It's perfect portions and we each got different entrees to try it out. My starter lentil soup was so rich and savory, my friend's salad had dried fruits and a light tangy dressing. My sirloin was perfectly medium rare and the mashed potatoes oh-so creamy. My friend's salmon was not dry, but moist and flaky. The sausages that were my other friend's entree were savory and filling. I think I had the best entree though, that steak was just amazing. We honestly didn't know how much food there was and ordered empanadas as our appetizer. They were just ok, I've had better. The crust was greasy and yet dry and the ingredients inside (we ordered 3 different types) were really salty. I would skip this next time. Bread was included in our meal with 3 different dipping sauces and condiments. It was really good and filling. We should have just stuck to this and our lunch entrees. Ice tea was included in the meal as well. Service was beyond excellent as we were like 3 parties there, which is a shame as the food was really delicious and a steal of a deal! Our dessert was flan and it was incredible, creamy, rich and decadent. We ended up with leftovers and my husband really enjoyed it. I should take him sometime. Come check them out if you're looking for a gorgeous ambiance with great food! Garufa (915) 833-6100 5411 N Mesa St, El Paso, TX 79912 https://maps.app.goo.gl/kfCrDP39RPXEewze7 read more

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Garufa was the perfect spot for my boyfriend & I to have dinner on our anniversary. I can't believe it took us so long to try this place! Our waiter was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. For starters, he brought out complimentary bread & 3 delicious salsas with the one in the middle being my favorite. One of my friends had recommended that we try the sweet red wine here, which I asked the waiter about. Wow she was right - it was incredible. My boyfriend isn't usually a wine fan but also liked this one. We ordered 2 empanadas to share, the carne (ground beef, boiled egg, & green olives) and humita (mozzarella, corn, & bacon bites). These are the best empanadas we've ever had! The breading actually felt like a little pillow it was so soft. I don't like olives but couldn't even taste them in the carne empanada, so don't let that stop you from trying this one. As our entree we shared both the 14 oz. certified rib eye and the sun dried tomato pasta. The steak was juicy and flavorful, and I really liked the sun dried tomato pasta as well. After the bread, empanadas, and the main course, we were both happily full. I can't wait to come back! Garufa is a great choice for any special occasion. read more

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Food is good but the service is terrible unless you are a frequent customer and then it seems you are treated like a human being. The restaurant was not busy at all, we had to ask for bread for the table, had to tell them we were ready to order, had to ask several times for the dessert menu. At the end we ordered the chocolate lava cake, the waiter lights it and you have to make a wish before blowing it out. We wished for the rest of you to get better service than we did. read more

Garufa - Diet Coke - Argentine Near Me - El Paso, Texas

Food is okay. The service is great. The place is pretty clean and the manager and the servers are kind and efficient. The atmosphere is okay. For the price of the plates I was expecting something a little better. Steaks that you can get in other places, nothing special. Overall, the restaurant is okay. read more

Wasn't very impressed by the food. Ordered the fettuccine Alfredo, ribeye steak and Chilean sea bass. Food was pretty under seasoned. Tasted like boxed pasta and lacked Parmesan. Chilean sea bass was a tad over cooked which lost its texture that you are looking for. Nothing special about the steak and the bread was terrible, untoasted and doughy. Ambiance was nice and there was live music. For the prices, I would not return. Applebee's quality food at best. read more

During our last visit to El Paso we decided to try Garufa again after having not been there since before the pandemic. We have always enjoyed Garufa and feel like it has never received the attention it deserves. For one, management is always on site and visible. Not uncommon for nice restaurants, but very uncommon in El Paso where restaurant owners and managers are happily absent or invisible. Been here at least a half dozen time in all and never have I seen management NOT on site greeting guests when they enter and stopping by the table. We were warmly greeted and shown to our table by a smiling host who made the impression he was happy to see us. Too often, I observe the new breed of host who can't be bothered to break away from Tiktok to look up from their smart phone when I arrive. Gotta finish the video first, right? Anyway, Garufa is consistent with their service and in the kitchen. Never a misstep--a rarity among restaurants anywhere, and very rare in El Paso, where service is notoriously inconsistent. We just returned recently from South America, mostly Argentina. We have a love of Argentinian cuisine, including empanadas which Garufa does very well. Garufa's steak is excellent, always cooked to the correct temperature. We enjoyed an authentic Argentinian parilla during our visit to Buenos Aires and Garufa's beef measures up fine. Beware if you come to Garufa on Saturday evening, the live music can be distractingly loud, making conversation difficult. We have learned not to come Saturdays rather than complaining about the volume. We figure others like it loud, that's fine with us. We just come on other nights. We aren't opposed to live music if the volume is low enough to enjoy conversation. IMO, loud music (live, dj, or just just playing thru the PA) should be reserved for dancing, concerts, and night clubs, not nice restaurants. read more

Wonderful dinner - we will definitely be back! Came for date night, many tables appeared to be special occasion or dates, which is fitting for this restaurant. The staff was friendly, and the restaurant is fairly well laid out. The upstairs seems to have a little different set-up, with live music and linens. Service started off pretty slow, 15 min before our drink order was taken, but the meal and service there after seemed to pick up. We ordered the aged rib eye (a tad over cooked) and Lomo al Vino Tinto - cooked perfectly (pictured). Wine list was pretty extensive, more bottles available than by the glass. read more

Garufa - Argentine Near Me - El Paso, Texas

One word...sexy. This place hits all the marks for me, its sexy, romantic, great food and amazing service. They don't have a cocktail menu but the bartender is crafty to make whatever you desire or at least close to it! This is our second time dining here while on our road trips. Jefferey was our server tonight, and although he was just a cutie patootie, he provided excellent service! He offered amazing food recommendations that paired excellent with our wine. Most of the food was excellent however the mashed potatoes were a little disappointing, but the ribeye!!! That was the star of the show for sure! And let's not forget the Spanish Sausage-wow what amazing flavors! The ambiance of this restaurant is super sexy, the saxophone player played amazing tunes and overall our experience here was just delightful. We'll be sure to dine here again when we pass through El Paso! read more

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Visited Garufa for date night. I had read outstanding reviews so I was looking forward to experience it. Here is my feedback: Beautiful restaurant, perfect setting for date night. Tasty food, and live music. It all sound sounds good, Right? No so, their costumer service definitely ruined the evening. When we arrived we had reservations and dressed accordingly. This is what ruined it: The restaurant had a group of bussers young adults lined up by the bar who were playing around, laughing and talking about every one in the restaurant, this ruined my experience for it was hard to disregard everything they were saying. We could hear all their comments. My surprise was that their behavior was very obvious and none of the other staff seemed to mind. Additionally, I never saw one of them do their job! Sadly it took over 10 minutes to finally get someone's attention so they may get our order. Overall, we were over 2 hours in the restaurant because the staff took that long to bring our food, drinks, the bill etc.. even after we mentioned we needed to leave soon. I guess this restaurant is fine as long as you order a bottle of wine so you don't have to wait on the staff to bring you drinks, and if you don't mind waiting on them for service. Aside from rude, slow, inattentive service I did loved their food. After waiting for approximately 20 minutes they brought complimentary bread and sauces. The bread was warm and very soft. As an appetizer we ordered Chistorra, good size serving and tasty. The sides we ordered were large enough portions for two. I absolutely loved the sautéed mushrooms by far the best I have ever had. The grilled steak was delicious. Both my husband and I agreed that my steak was better than his. I ordered "Bife de Chorizo" and he ordered the "Churrasco". I ordered an Argentinian wine, but I cannot recall the name. It was excellent. Regardless of their good food due to their service we will not be coming back. There are so many other restaurants with decent food but much better service. When I go out to eat somewhere I want to feel welcomed. If my mood goes from positive to negative due to a restaurants service is definitely a "no go" read more

The service was AMAZING . The food was soo delicious and well worth the price I will definitely be coming back . The waiter made sure our drinks were filled and took great care of us . We even got a desert at the end that was so delicious and the restaurant was small but beautiful and they had live musicians. The atmosphere was great read more

We loved the food we ordered. The dessert was amazing as well. This place is great for an intimate date night. Our server made the best choice in pairing the wine with our order. Definitely going back. read more

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Go to texas road house. Good ambiance, nice music not authentically fire cooked churrasco. Overpriced for normal steakhouse grade food. The Mercedes and Ferrari parked in the owners spot says it all. We ordered the bone marrow, as an app, was too gamey, under salted, and under done. The chimicurri was the biggest disappointment for a Argentinian steak house. They should invest in a Santa Maria grill, and a better beef purveyor. Do better. read more

The food has great taste. I've had boils where the water overtook the flavor. This boil has rich deep flavor.

Excellent food, I had a steak and was cooked to perfection. Service was first class with our waiter Benjamin. We will request him every time. read more

Good steaks and sides but they are thin cuts and I hate thin steaks. The sea bass was also thin but great taste

I really wanted to like this place. I love Argentinian grill, I hadn't had it in forever, and I was excited to find it. It just didn't hit. The meal started with two Old Fashioneds which seemed like they were made with orange soda. Our salad was sad - canned olives and unripe tomatoes - and the chimichurri which came out with the bread was old and off. My fries were terrible. Our steaks were decent, but not worth the price in a city with so many better options. After waiting a very long time to get our check, I finally went to the bar to get help getting a server. We might have had a bad night, but I cannot recommend this place. read more

excelente servicio de Benjamin, hizo nuestra noche aun mas especial.... su amabilidad y conociento del Menu es lo que nos invita a regresar al Restaurant Garufa..... Gracias Benjamin por hacer nuestra velada agradable... We received impeccable, friendly service, our waiter Benjamin has knowledge about the menu.... we have a wonderful time celebrating our birthdays..... thanks NORA AND BENNIE read more

First time visiting this restaurant. I would like to thank the captain of waiters to accommodate us (no reservation) on such a busy evening . I really appreciate the effort. Next time I will make sure to make a reservation. Atmosphere and restaurant it's very nice clean and also excellent service! As suggested from our waitress , we order a combination of three different empanadas : shrimp , cheese and beef and cut it in half so we can start as an appetizer. We order two Churrasco (Top Sirloin) and Two Lomo al Vino Tinto (Tenderloin with Red Wine Sauce) both excellent choices but at the end I will say that Lomo al Vino Tinto is the winner. Ag read more

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Everything was amazing. From entering the door to our exit, it was a wonderful experience. The chilled water poured from a bottle, wine, appetizers, and our meals was epic. The lamb, skirt steak, pasta Alfredo with shrimp, huge Brussel sprouts, the appetizer sausage and bread with the cream of spinach were absolutely delicious. Our servers and the singing added to the amazing ambiance of the evening. Thanks for making our evening wonderful Garufu! read more

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Came for the Lunch special which offers 3 courses for $13.75. M-F from 11-3pm. Ambiance - White linen cloth, well decorated interior. I definitely stepped into a place I thought would have been to fancy to even have a lunch special. There's a second story too and I can definitely see why people come here for a fancy dinner. Service - Friendly and attentive. Nothing out of the ordinary. Food - For the lunch special, you are able to get soup or salad, an entree, dessert, and a soft drink. - Creamy asparagus soup: nice and creamy but not too thick. It was refreshing. - Churrasco: they recommended medium-well, but I should have gone medium-rare. It was a bit tough on the outside, but the meat was much more tender towards the center. - Flan: not the best flan I've ever had, but it was decent. Overall, it's a pretty good deal for a slightly fancier food and an even fancier environment. The food was decent, but the value of the meal overall was great. I would definitely recommend. read more

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My boyfriend and I came here for date night on a Saturday evening. The atmosphere was inviting, the live music was great, the food was great, and our waitress was attentive. They start you off with some bread and 3 different "dips". I wasn't a fan of it. My boyfriend did like one of the dips - I can't remember if it was the green one. The red spicy one was great for the steak if you like spicy sauce (not that the steak needed it). They have an open bar, so whatever you want they can make. I had my tropical sunrise and it was good. My boyfriend had the sangria and he liked it. The steaks are big! The biggest, most juicy, most flavorful steaks I've ever had AND it was reasonably priced. I got a small piece of steak because I also ordered the shrimp fettuccine, which I wouldn't order again. There was way too much Parmesan in there it took away from the enjoyment of the pasta. We didn't order dessert because I made apple cream cheese cobbler at home. I would definitely recommend this place. read more

Garufa - Argentine Near Me - El Paso, Texas

I was so looking forward to this dinner date, since I had not been here before. The place did not disappoint. The lighting was lowered appropriately for an intimate evening. The cocktails were nicely prepared. We each ordered an empanada- a meat and a something else (you can guess that the meat one was my favorite); the appetizer portion is one empanada. The steaks came and mine was perfect- I got the New York Strip and it was a nice thickness to make it medium rare. My friend ordered a different cut but liked mine better; the steaks were so full of taste! I ordered veggies on the side and was delightfully surprised when sautéed zucchini was presented as opposed to the too usual broccoli mix. We did order a dessert to share and opted for the strudel with vanilla ice cream- yeah I didn't leave you any ;)' read more

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Definitely a good steak house, and they had an amazing singer on the friday night that we went. Ive been here several times and always a solid to have a nice dinner date. read more

Great service always by Juan, I love their steaks and salads, good and romantic atmosphere

Came with a girlfriend for lunch and they offered a small prix fixe menu which included a choice of three different appetizers (2 salads, 1 soup), about 6-7 entree choices, and 3 dessert options (cheesecake, apple strudel, and flan) along with iced tea. All of this for $15.50 I feel is an excellent value. The atmosphere is upscale with the 2 story building offering some uniqueness. The paintings of tango dancers add to the Argentinian vibe. The soup of the day was cream of squash and was tasty. My friend opted for a salad and everything looked freshly prepared. I chose the skirt steak with grilled onions and it was perfectly seasoned. My friend chose the salmon and said it was really good. The apple strudel wasn't the best I've had, but it was good enough. I'll probably try the cheesecake next time. All in all, this is a great date night spot and I absolutely look forward to returning. read more

Nice place, good food, excellent service and great ambiance. We sure go back when we visit El Paso again

Receiving out food takes a little while but the food was decent. Restaurant is very busy. Sometimes they run out of certain food items.

Fantastic steaks, excellent sides, delicious desserts, and top notch service. We had Benjamin as our server and he was amazing.

Some reviews here have compared this place to the likes of Ruth's Chris. Others have vehemently criticized the hit-or-miss service. This review will touch on both, along with some other points I'd like to address. Because I feel like there's 3 categories of customers when it comes to Garufa: those who love it, those who hate it, and those who wanted to love it, but couldn't quite get there. I'm of the latter category. Right off the bat, the ambiance and atmosphere scream fine dining. Unfortunately, the attire of the clientele was (as I suspected) all over the place. Like most restaurants in EP, I doubt they enforce any kind of dress code. Alas, I didn't care. Because I was determined to have an elegant date night with the misses. So, I waltzed into that place dressed to the nines like I was Justin Timberlake, promptly arriving with 5 minutes to spare for our reservation time. By the way, it's not entirely necessary to make a reservation. But this was our very first visit on a pay day weekend and we didn't know how crowded it might be. On this night, I'd say the crowd was moderate to light. We left around 8:15pm and the dining room was already half empty. I started the evening off with a Caesar salad. It was decent enough. I could tell great care was taken when selecting the lettuce, because none of the pieces were overly stalky. One issue I have with this salad though: not enough Caesar dressing. I don't understand why this is a such a problem with most restaurants. But I'm guessing the chef was deathly afraid of overdressing the lettuce. 7 out of 10 for me. For the main course, I got the 14oz ribeye (boastly advertised 28 days aged) with a baked potato and sautéed mushrooms. The misses got the filet and I wish I had, too. But we'll get more into that in a bit. The mushrooms were good, though nowhere near as good as Ruth's Chris. They had a smoky flavor I really appreciated and they were firm, but still soft on the inside. They complimented the steak just fine, despite being generally sauceless. 7 out of 10. The ribeye was....alright. Look, I'm not gonna lie. I think I make a way better ribeye at home and here's why; whatever cut of steak they chose clearly didn't have enough marbling to make it tender and buttery the way a ribeye should be. A lot of reviewers here claimed the ribeye was chewy. While I find that to be a slightly hyperbolic statement, they're not too far off. The best way I could describe the texture of this steak is...rigid; almost like what you'd expect from a well done steak (I always order mine medium). The temperature was cooked correctly and the seasoning was there, though I would have prefered more. When I sampled the wife's filet mignon, it was not only cooked to perfection, but the seasoning was exquisite! I'd give the filet a 9 out of 10. But the ribeye failed to impress me as much. It wasn't bad by any means, but like I said...I've made better at home. I shouldn't have to struggle to cut my steak as if it were a cinder block. This one gets a 6 out of 10. The fact that they wrap their baked potatoes in foil kinda surprised me, considering this is a fine dining restaurant. But they were harmlessly alright. 7 out of 10. Finally, we come to the service. Let's see...what's the best way I can describe this? Slow. Anemically slow. No offense to the waiter of the evening, but he looked like he was 70 going on 90. I honestly felt bad for him. Nevertheless, we rarely saw him throughout the evening. Because it took ages to get things like a refill on my wine or to have my wife's steak refired (came back mid-rare the first time). Like, I literally had time to go to the restroom, return 10 minutes later and my drink still hadn't been refilled. Perhaps Gandalf was awaiting my unprecedented return so he could deliver a fresh vintage, but...it wasn't that serious for me. I should also point out this place isn't all that big. Yes, there's an upstairs, though it hardly takes up as much floorspace as the main dining area. So, yeah...service was pretty much hit-or-miss. But at least everything was delivered as requested and there were no screwed up orders, outside the undercooked filet; which wouldn't have been the waiter's fault anyway. Would I return? Certainly! If only to try the filet instead of the ribeye. I'll just have to remember to order extra Caesar dressing for my salad next time around. I'm giving Garufa 4 savory bites of filet that melt in your mouth and question your own dinner choices all at the same time...out of 5. read more

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The service and ambiance were great. The food I'm still not sure about. The lunch menu is small, just one offering per beef, chicken, fish or vegetarian main. I had expected more. The beef was medium well on one end and almost bloody on the other end. None of the food was seasoned, neither salt nor pepper were on the table or offered. There was a slightly oily grilled taste. The mashed potatoes must have been plated before the meat was done and were cold on arrival. The onions and jalapeno pepper were room temperature but no problem there. The jalapeno added some flavor. The coffee flan, ugh, it tasted like soy sauce. Never having had this I expected a different flavor but do not associate coffee with soy. The price was reasonable but overall the 45 minute drive, lack of flavor in the main along with the soy tasting flan did not hit the mark. read more

Garufa - The entree or main dish. - Argentine Near Me - El Paso, Texas

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Our lunches here have been delightful. Location is close to home, the food is very delicious, the options are plenty, and the service great. read more

The best meat I ever tried Their meat is delicious, perfectly seasoned. Their apple strudel and their alfajor are to die for. We love this place. It never disappoints us. The staff is friendly and nice. Their empanadas are delicious but a bit overpriced. We come here VERY often. Never disappoints us.. read more

Had a get together with my wife, myself and some friends and decided to try Garufa for the first time. Must say I was impressed. Great food, offerings and menu, and great service. Very classy, clean and comfortable vibe. Ordered the rack of lamb, and wife ordered the Chilean Sea Bass....both awesome. Also ordered their empanada appetizers! Must try. Highly recommend and reservations needed. Yes it's pricey...but worth it! read more

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Garufa is great for lunch (especially when you can make it Monday-Friday for their 3 course lunch special) and is even better if you make it for dinner! The ambiance is romantic and perfect for a date night. It has been relatively empty the 3 times I have come by.. I'm not sure why. You can check in on yelp for a free drink or comment on their facebook page for a free appetizer, so take advantage of that! I definitely recommend the aged ribeye, its great quality and absolutely delicious! I think it's my favorite steak in El Paso (except for Cattleman's but that's a drive lol). Two can easily split the 21oz ribeye. Unfortunately the asparagus I ordered on the side were very bland and unseasoned. Before you get your food you will be served complimentary bread and 3 homemade dipping sauces/spreads. You must try the chimichurri sauce. It's also great on steak! They have an extensive wine and drink menu to check out. read more

Garufa - 21oz ribeye and asparagus! The ribeye is fantastic! The asparagus was kinda bland. - Argentine Near Me - El Paso, Texas

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First time I was there my husband took me, it was my birthday. wonderful our waiter was on point. Beautiful service. No complaints there. Now in December I took my husband for his birthday what a disappointment. The place was so packed it looked like the Mercado. Completely packed no space between table's. Everyone so freaking loud. The waitress was horrible. If she came like three times was a lot , we never saw her again. She took our order, someone else brought the food, then she asked if we wanted dessert,, she brought the check. Not happy. Before I forget we had cheap paper napkins, I asked her for fabric napkins she said we ran out. They had the dollar option. Really for what you are charging you've should be ready. When we came in one of the waiters welcomed us, I told him we had reservations and I had a special request that I have already talked to the lady on the phone a week ago, I asked for a quiet table, mentioned it was my husband birthday, she said no problem, everything was going to be taking care of. Not true. The waiter was sorry everything booked she never wrote anything on your reservation, who knows who to believe. The point is we were not happy, couldn't wait to get out of there. Never again. read more

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