My sister and I came here for dinner on a Sunday at 6 pm. We made reservations a few days in advance online through Resy. Reservations seem highly recommended because it seems most people came here with one. It's fine dining (price-wise - very reasonable for fine dining). It's also BYOB -- like the name says. I loved every moment of this. Service was very attentive and professional. I did feel worried that I was a bit underdressed because I had tennis shoes on, but it was not an issue. It is not a huge restaurant, but it's elegant and definitely meant more as a special night out than a casual spot. If you are looking for seafood options, look no further than here. If you want to impress someone, take them here. Now, onto the food. The bread is complimentary and we ate it all (along with our refill). The butter was freshly made, I believe. I had the winter prix fixe menu and my sister ordered à la carte. Their prix fixe and tasting menus tend to change quite often so it'll always be interesting. My sister ordered the Spanish octopus (1st course) and the Scottish Salmon. I had some of her octopus and salmon. They were both such well-made dishes. We would definitely order the octopus again. Chewy and delicate. I had the arancini, fra diavolo, and the chocolate tart. It was absolutely delicious. The arancini were small, but it was still well filled with tiny bites of clam. The fra diavolo was also very good and filling. Plenty of seafood to go around in that dish. Spicy too, which I like. At the end, we shared a chocolate tart -- and I must say, we were already full at this point. The chocolate was rich and the pistachio ice cream was perfect. We will definitely be back. read more

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Grana was easily one of our best meals in Cape May, a restaurant that gets most of the important things right. We started with the caprese salad, which was fresh and exactly what you want from a starter, followed by the summer corn soup, which was comforting without feeling heavy. The standout was the special New York strip. It arrived beautifully cooked, tender and flavorful. Service was equally strong by being attentive without being overbearing. The one misstep was the rigatoni, essentially a truffle mac and cheese with mushrooms and shaved truffles. On paper, it sounded promising, especially paired with a steak. In practice, it was overwhelmed by garlic to the point that the garlic eclipsed nearly everything else. There was also surprisingly little rigatoni pasta; the dish was dominated by mushrooms. We wouldn't order the pasta again, but that's a relatively minor complaint for an otherwise excellent meal. Grana is absolutely worth a return visit and there's plenty on the menu that we'd happily order again. It gets a relatively older crowd, but I don't mind if that food is good. read more

We've been staying in the Cape May area for the past two months and have driven past this place several times. We finally decided to give it a try, and we're glad we did! The inside is warm, cozy, and inviting, and the service was attentive from start to finish. For our first course, we had the burrata and compressed melon salad, which was delicious. For the second course, we shared the orecchiette pasta with scallops, spinach, and bacon in a basil cream sauce. For the third and final course, we shared the 32-ounce cowboy ribeye for two, which was cooked to perfection. All in all, we had a wonderful dining experience. Excellent service, a great atmosphere, and a delicious meal. We'll definitely be back! read more

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What a sweet little gem, great food, beautiful cozy vibe and Dan our server made our experience absolutely fantastic! Definitely coming back. read more

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Opened in 2022 as the longtime dream of a local Cape May chef. It's a single 68 seat spot with a minimalist vibe. Our meals here were incredible. The place keeps a very humble and simple atmosphere yet turns out outstanding plates, with top service and the always welcome BYOB policy. I'd go back just for the yellowfin tuna poke and the seared day boat scallops. read more

We visited Grana after a wine tasting at The Washington Inn. The restaurant is BYOB so we brought a couple of nice bottles with us. The dining room is bright and inviting. Lots of windows and natural light. The four of us decided to split everything: - Artisanal Cheese Plate - this paired beautifully with our wine! - Yellowfin Tuna Tartare - great seasoning and texture - Burrata and Apple Panzanella Salad - this was better than expected. I ate more than my fair share of this! - Cauliflower Bisque - so smooth and flavorful. The bacon added a nice salty touch - Rigatoni/Radiatore/Orecchiette - we ordered all three house-made pastas. Delicious! We should have gone with the smaller size, but I wasn't mad at leftovers - Broccoli Rabe and Roasted Peppers - healthy and delicious - Brussels Sprouts and Bacon - Brussels are never wrong! Our server was SO sweet! I can't recall her name (I was in a food coma) but she had such a fun personality. Solid Cape May choice! read more

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We loved last year's restaurant week experience so much we came back this year. Everything was top notch this year. We have no complaints whatsoever. The menu was even better this time around too. We went for the prix fixe meal. We got: seared crab cake, yellow fin tuna poke, grilled octopus appetizer, rigatoni, Berkshire porkchop, strawberry panacotta, and dark chocolate tart. Everything was extraordinary. That grilled octopus was cooked to perfection. It was the perfect amount of charred without making the inside chewy in the slightest. The meat inside was still very tender. The yellow fin poke was an authentic dish with great portions. The entrees did not disappoint either. That rigatoni and the porkchop were both great main courses. The porkchop was easily my favorite dish of the night. Everything was perfect. The service was speedy, the food was delicious and in great portions. I would highly recommend visiting Grana. read more

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Great dinner this evening!! We attended as a party of 4 and did the early tasting menu. Each course was amazing, service was superb, and we loved the entire experience. Another great meal and experience at Grana!! read more

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Absolutely one of the best meals we had in cape may! As the name indicates, this is a BYOB spot! It is cozy and intimate, with friendly and knowledge staff. The food is truly perfection! We started with the caprese app and oysters, and then got mains. I had the pasta while my husband got the steak. Highly recommend making a reservation! read more

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We had a wonderful meal here with great service and impeccable food. Chef Carl created an inventive menu with delicious flavors. The ambience isn't as nice as Peter Shields but that is made up for with the quality of the food and service read more

We had a lovely dinner here! We tend to struggle to find excellent dinner options in Cape May, and so this made our experience even better. Service was top-notch. The bread and butter basket was great, as was the caprese salad. We both got the mahi mahi, pea and crab risotto, with brussels sprouts and bacon, as our entrees. We LOVED it! It was the perfect portion and the flavors of everything were delicious. The mahi mahi was cooked perfectly. We shared a creme brulee for dessert which was very good. We will be sure to come back to Grana and are so thankful to have found our favorite dinner spot in Cape May! read more

Nice roomy tables for two. Very classy white tablecloth atmosphere. Love the BYOB. Service by Laura was exceptional - helpful with a great personality. She made it a fun evening. Food had some definite highs, but unfortunately, a big low. There's a lot going on in the dishes. We ordered two appetizers to start. The Tuna Tartare unfortunately was pretty bland and my wife thought a tad fishy. The Foie Gras by itself was delicious but it was drowned in a sauce that overpowered it. I wouldn't order them again, but there are lots of other options. The pasta course took a really long time to come out. We almost thought they lost the order. When the Radiatori arrived, it was worth the wait. A little spicy but delicious! Definitely recommended but pretty pricey for a small portion at $25. The entrees were delicious! My wife had the filet mignon with broccolini and delicious mashed potatoes. I had the delicious duck breast with asparagus. They were 5 star entrees and we loved them. Highly recommend both. We tried the off menu special dessert; chocolate chip banana bread pudding with vanilla ice cream. The bread pudding was terrible; perhaps the worst dessert I have ever tried - dried out and strange taste we thought. It didn't pass the audition for the menu for us. read more

GRANA BYOB - 8oz filet - Salad Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

We were here two years ago for restaurant week. We returned today and were seated for their early seating menu. The service was friendly and professional. The beet salad was the perfect starter, while the king salmon with risotto was flaky and hearty. The lemon bar was a tasty light desert. The decor has remained simplistic yet modern and cozy. We will return. read more

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I visited GRANA BYOB with friends during restaurant week while staying in North Cape May. We made reservations and started with the duo of tartare (salmon and tuna) which was excellent. For the entrée, I had the house-made rigatoni pasta topped with a scoop of ricotta. The pasta was fresh and delicious. For dessert, I enjoyed the strawberry panna cotta, which was a perfect sweet finish. Portions were good, and everything was incredibly flavorful and satisfying. Service was very attentive, adding to the overall great experience. The ambiance was a little upscale and intimate, with not many tables, making it a cozy setting. We brought our own wine to pair with dinner. Prices were reasonable, and the restaurant week menu offered good value. I'd definitely recommend GRANA BYOB for a special night out. read more

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First dining experience at this cozy little BYO restaurant and it was quite a pleasant one, even considering it to be during a buzzing holiday weekend. Our service was excellent- she was informative, attentive, and hysterical! Without hesitation I ordered the prix fixe Chef's Selection with 4 courses including small plates featuring seasonal produce and fresh sea and land. The homemade pastas were great and the ate autumn spice creme brûlée was divine. read more

GRANA BYOB - Salad Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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Three of us came here on a Tuesday night. Stephanie was the sweetest hostess and seated us although we showed up early. We very much appreciated that but didn't assume it would happen. Atmosphere was tranquil with music in the background and low chatter from other patrons. Lighting was flattering. The bread was hot and had raisins in it. Served with a super soft herbed butter, it was hard to resist. Perfect. Had to stop myself. Octopus charred and tender at the same time. Small portion but so delicious and cooked perfectly. It Came with broccoli rabe and red pepper side dish that we ordered. Also had a few perfectly crisped potato's that were thick sliced and crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. The corn soup was amazing. It summer sweet corn but thicker. We went on a rainy cold windy day so the mix of summer and fall was perfect. Highly recommend if this is on the menu. For the main I ordered the truffled Mac and cheese, we also got the orchestra pasta and the duck to share. All mains were split and there were no complaints. We had leftovers too. For dessert we split the sticky toffee pudding and the special of the evening the lime tart. I asked to substitute the strawberry sorbet for the pistachio ice cream. The sticky toffee pudding was good. It was served warm and had a lot of flavor from spices. The key lime was ok and the pistachio ice cream was the only disappointment tonight. I am giving a disclaimer that I am spoiled having the best pistachios and pistachio flavored desserts in italy often. read more

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I feel like that guy, aryahungry from instagram: What do you think BYOB F** means?? It's right in the title! Grana BYOB, regardless of the name is a Cape May neighborhood gem. The restaurant is serving locally sourced items under the watchful eye of chef/owner Carl Messick. First time dining here, my wife & I arrived (with a BYO Bottle of wine) to a cozy restaurant. Parking, we lucked out and found a spot directly across the street. Walking in, I'd say there's at least 60 covers when we were seated so reservations are a must. We started with freshly shucked oysters, I think the oysters were from New Jersey? To me, oysters are always the perfect starter. Briny and plumpy, they are always welcomed at our dining table. For my main entree I ordered the special of the night, Ocean Scallops. I know you've seen Kitchen Nightmares, Not to fear because Chef Carl is here. The Chef cooked those scallops perfectly! Now I'm feeling pretty full at this point. The waitress came over and said the chef prepared homemade ice cream for dessert tonight. One of the flavors is pine. Hmmm.. Like Pine Cone pine?? My wife said, lets try it. If we don't like it then there are two other flavors. Chef Carl, I'm not sure what voodoo is happening.. Man, that pine flavor was dynamite! Something different and it made our dining experience fun. We came to Cape May for the South Jersey Corvette Show and we will be back in 2025. read more

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My favorite dinner in Cape May by far. Food was delicious, server was delightful and the acoustics were ideal for conversation. Thank you Grana! read more

We were here for a special occasion dinner before Christmas. We were disappointed with the food. My salad was drenched with dressing and my salmon did not have much flavor. My dining partner had a pasta he did not much care for either. We don't even remember what we had for dessert. Service and ambiance were good. read more

GRANA BYOB - Salmon - Salad Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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It was the first trip to Grana for the four of us. The minute we walked in, we retreated so wonderfully, and made to feel at home. Our server, Kit, was exceptional. She explained everything to us about the menu in detail and allowed us to order our different courses at separate times. Never did we feel rushed or neglected. Onto the food: oh my God, what can I say? It was spectacular. The Spanish octopus was extraordinary. The tuna appetizer was a beautiful blend of taste and textures. The buratta melted in your mouth. The pork loin was so tender and delicious and the portion so large that even though we were sharing it, we couldn't finish it. The other entrées, the pork chop and the Seabass looked delicious even though I didn't taste them. While the desserts looked amazing, we were too full to eat anymore. We definitely will be back for another delicious dinner soon. read more

Superb food, attentive but not overly attentive service, light and pleasant atmosphere.

4.5/5 We came by for dinner on a Thursday evening. There were only a few tables with guests when we sat down, but it had filled up by the time we finished -- definitely recommend reservations! Our server was fantastic, very knowledgeable, friendly, poised, and professional. For two people, we went with: - Arugula & burrata salad - Mahi mahi special - Radiatori - Rigatoni Everything was beautifully plated and our server had the kitchen split everything (at no additional charge) after we mentioned we were planning to share all of the dishes. The salad was a great mix of flavors and a light, though enjoyable, way to start the meal. I was most excited to try the handmade pasta. We enjoyed both pasta dishes (radiatori a bit more so than the rigatoni), but found ourselves wishing there were some "simpler" (ex. cacio e pepe, pesto, red sauce) pasta dishes on the menu. Why? So that the amazing noodles could shine through! While the pasta itself was delicious, there was so much going on (meats, veggies, sauces, spices, etc.) in the pasta dishes that the flavor was essentially masked. We both wished that the pastas were more noodle-forward. The mahi mahi special was absolutely phenomenal and one of the best things I've eaten in a while. The fish and summer succotash were perfectly cooked and flavored. The bread basket and chive butter were a great addition to the meal. We expected to leave this meal hungry and/or get dessert elsewhere, but ended up leaving absolutely stuffed, struggling to finish what we had ordered. Overall, enjoyable food with enjoyable service. Hope to come back! read more

GRANA BYOB - Mahi mahi special - Salad Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

Had many very nice meals here. Unfortunately, latest meal was so so at best. Had the price fix chef special menu. Soup was delicious. But to me the most important course the halibut was disappointing. Dry and overcooked. A shame. The surf and turf was also mediocre. Not sure why crab cake was added to this. Either way the crab cake was ok and the filet was not the best. The desert was ice cream. Good but not a great cake or tart. The price fix price was on par with the heighborhood but was hoping for a better multi course meal with chefs tasting menu. I'll stick to regular menu next tim read more

If you are looking for fancy dining in Cape May, look no further. This is the place to be. The food is excellent! The Chefs really take care to use excellent ingredients and to play carefully. The servers are attentive and ours specifically, Kit, was extremely professional and knew here stuff well. She was so nice took. I notice that she, but also all the servers, were able to multi-task. For example when she ran my credit card, as it was clearly loading and approving, she turned around to check on the table behind her, got down what they needed, got me my card back for signature and took care of the table behind her. No wasted time or wasted effort. That was just one way the whole crew works efficiently and effectively. They do have a slight dress code of smart casual so just be aware. I actually felt dressed down as I was the only male without a jacket at the time! The location is also great. West Cape May has free parking all over and they have parking all around them. I went on the off season so perhaps that is why I got parking right away. It may be a bit more difficult in the on season. Definitely a must try and a one to splurge on. read more

Excellent birthday dinner at Grana. Very friendly, attentive service and delicious food. read more

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This place was incredible! It's tucked away deeper in Cape May making it off the beaten path a bit. The restaurant looks so inviting from the outside and the atmosphere inside is warm and cozy. The wait staff is very attentive and knowledgeable as well. The food is perfection (right down to the complimentary bread basket)! My husband and I got 3 appetizers to split, the beet salad, steak tartare and foie gras all of which were delicious, but it was the restaurants attention to detail that I loved bringing our salad and steak tartare in two portions so that we each had our own plate. While this may seem like nothing it makes all the difference in a presentation standpoint and makes sharing appetizers feel elevated. For the steak tartare we also both got egg yolks! For dinner my husband and I both got the rack of venison medium rare and in was the best piece of venison I've had. The meat was tender and not gamey like a standard venison cut. It was on top of carrots and a potato mash of some kind that elevated it even further. While it was pricey the portion was massive and I would happily spend that again for this winning dish. For dessert I got the toffee pudding and my husband got the lemon bar. While both were good I don't think they were memorable. Highly recommend this place to all who travel down to Cape May because you won't be disappointed. read more

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We celebrated our 40th anniversary here with dinner for two, during a visit to Cape May, which happened to be during Restaurant Week. The service was very good (Kit) and the food was exceptional. I had the crab chowder. pork tenderloin and s'mores dessert; my husband enjoyed the charcuterie plate, rigatoni and flourless brownie. We brought along a bottle of Pinot Noir (love the ability to BYOB). Delicious meal and wonderful, classy ambience. We'd come back again! read more

GRANA BYOB - Death by Chocolate - Salad Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

This was our first time at Grana. We were seated in the small dining area to the back right behind the main. I liked that spot since it was a bit out of the way. We had perfect service. Courses were well spaced. I am an eater and I came hungry. Even so, I could have gone with two courses not three. The Fusilli second course was so rich. Having that on the heels of a rich bisque was just too much. Food was superb. The bisque was the best I have ever had. All dishes were so perfectly executed. Highly recommend. First Course * Butternut Squash Bisque- Smoked Trout, Walnut Aioli, Petite Greens *Burrata Tomato Salad Special Second Course- We both chose the same thing * Fusilli Truffle Mac & Cheese, Wild Mushrooms, Shaved Truffles (Decadent and comforting) Third Course * Crispy Branzino, Truffle Potato Puree, Cippolini Onions, Spinach, White Balsamic (The best Branzino dish I have ever had) * Maple Glazed King Salmon, Braised Kale, Roasted Root Vegetables Risotto, Maple Aioli They had an amazing waffle dessert special that no one could fit. read more

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My wife and I came here for a nice dinner, toward the end of our Cape May vacation. The menu is sophisticated. My wife got scallops and oricchetti, while I had swordfish. Both were super good. Oh, and I got a poke bowl appetizer, which was tasty. The service was very attentive and refined, and the room is quite nice, refined and attractive. It is probably the best restaurant in town these days. read more

This our favorite new restaurant in Cape May. This adds-up, as our all-time favorite in Cape May is Peter Shields Inn, of which Chef Carl Messick was the previous executive chef. You will not be disappointed with the high quality of the food, the wonderful (seasoned and professional) wait staff, and the casual, intimate ambiance. Update from 8/6/2024: Back again (many times since original review) This is a wonderful restaurant with a great chef and staff! We have never been disappointed. One of our go-to restaurants in CM. read more

We went there for a special occasion. The food the service was probably the best I have experienced in South Jersey. Try the crab salad and Foie de canard read more

Excellent food, service & ambiance! I highly recommend the halibut. The service was great and ambiance nice and quiet! read more

02/15/2024 My wife LOVES Cape May, so here I am again! It's nice... old Victorian homes, some good restaurants, blah, blah, blah. Nicer in the Summer than the Winter, certainly less crowded, but that's the one redeeming quality. To our mind, finding a great restaurant (a BYOB please) in Cape May... in the Winter almost qualifies as a 'sport'. Not much else to do except "shop" which for us guys... that means finding a place to sit and wait until the ladies are finished or tired. Then it's off to find a bar/restaurant! Ok, off track a bit. So it's the second day here in CM and we came to Grana BYOB for dinner. (FYI... it's a byob!) I had a great Salmon tartar to start which I shared with the Mrs. She had the Orecchiette duck ragu as her entree and I had the Swordfish grits... both dishes excellent! The past few days seem to have been an eating marathon, so no dessert, but if I'm ever dragged down to CM again, we're going to be coming here for sure. read more

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Wow! What a great dinner. This will go into rotation as one of our staples. Fantastic. We had the corn soup, the oysters, steaks and the halibut. Fabulous. Our server was also really great. My friend has a nut allergy and she let us know they could make anything without the nuts rather than only limiting him to certain dishes. Will be back read more

We had a chance to get back to Grana this summer, and our experience just further solidified why it is one the best restaurants you can find in Cape May. It truly covers all aspects of a memorable dining experience - service, food, and ambience are top notch. Service: our waiter was friendly, funny, and kept the atmosphere light. He had solid menu recommendations and welcomed questions. Food: they don't miss here. Their menu focuses on seafood, homemade pastas, and steak specialties. I had gotten the duck, and it was superb. The small dish that stood out to me the most was the scallops - some of the best I have ever had in my life. Ambience: this is a nice place to go for a special outing, and they keep it "upscale" feeling. They cover all the details with the linen tablecloths, table cleanings after each course, swapping of silverware, etc. Can't recommend it enough! read more

My husband and I think this is the best restaurant in Cape May. The food is exquisite - the summer corn chowder is outstanding. The servers are great - attentive without hovering. The only flaw is the horrible music - acoustic versions of "classic" rock performed on guitar and/or piano. I felt like I was stuck in an elevator or dentist office. read more

When I read Craig Laban's review about this place, I made reservations right away. My husband and I stayed in West Cape May so it is within a walking distance. This restaurant is at the corner of S Broadway and W Perry. Very cute and intimate restaurant. Perfect for a date or celebration of special occasion. Staff was very professional and courteous. You can pick prefix dinner menu or a la carte. Tuna poke: perfect appetizer size. Tuna was fresh and melts in your mouth. It was marinated in soy sauce so it didn't have the fishy smell and taste. Orrechiette: our waitress explained that it was not a big portion so it was not too heavy. Pasta was fresh and tasty. Salmon: perfectly cooked with fresh veggies. Flavor was on point. Beautiful presentation. Complimentary bread in my opinion was dense. Dessert: chocolate ice cream with espresso. I didn't taste the espresso at all. Very thick and fudgy . The chocolate was very rich. Overall it was a very pleasant dining experience. read more

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We went to Grana for our wedding anniversary. We have been to many of the popular high-end restaurants in Cape May and we haven't tried this one so we decided to give it a shot for our anniversary. When you walk in it gives off an elegant vibe with the white tablecloths and the dim lighting. We had a beautiful seat that was in the front corner and near the window that felt very private. Our waitress was outstanding and she explained everything in detail. We decided to do the chef's tasting menu because it gave us a little bit of everything. To start you had the crab bisque which was very good and a decent size. Next was the scallops with risotto which was my least favorite which I was surprised by because both of these are some of my favorite foods. Then for the entree I had the New York strip which is not my favorite cut of meat but it was cooked perfectly it was delicious! For dessert it was the ice cream and waffle sundae which was also outstanding. Overall it was a nice place for our wedding anniversary but I don't think that we will be going back. One comment on the food was everything had too much microgreens on it including the dessert. There is no parking lot so parking can be a little tricky we ubered over but it was a little difficult to get an Uber home but they did not rush us while we waited for the car. read more

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If I could give 6 stars I would!!!!! Amazing amazing amazing. The staff is great, polite, friendly and helpful! BYOB but still opened bottles, chilled champagne. Top notch. The food was great! Everything we eat! Octopus grilled and charred but just enough. Autumn salad was lovely and a great started. Bronzino was amazing!!!!!! Crispy but cooked to perfection. So so so good. My husband got the duck cooked MR and it was great. Sweet potato purée under with apples so so yummy. I cannot say enough about this place. Go!!! It's wonderful! read more

Food was amazing and great service. Definitely would go back. Well worth the trip, don't forget your bottle of wine