I don't normally write online reviews, but I recently had an experience so surreal that I felt compelled to share it. My wife and I have frequented Houston's over 120 times since they opened in 1996. While prices have naturally gone up over the years, the quality of the food and service has remained consistently strong. Overall, it's a restaurant we've thoroughly enjoyed visiting every few months. Recently, my siblings and I took our 86-year-old mother there to celebrate her birthday. While the meal was good overall, we ran into a few minor hiccups. I was going to chalk it up to an off day and move on, but the restaurant sent me a post-dining feedback survey, so I filled it out honestly. To my absolute surprise, I received the following response from Jessica Treadway in Guest Services: "We are in receipt of your recent Wisely review which prompted a review of your previous comments. While we understand you dine frequently, it seems you are often under the impression that we have missed the mark in one capacity or another. This is unfortunate as our goal is always to exceed our guests' expectations. In relation to your most recent comment, we always cut our burgers in half unless our guests request otherwise. That said, given the frequency of your displeasure, we believe it is best if you find alternative dining arrangements moving forward. We are in the business of providing excellent food and service to those who appreciate what we offer, and it is clear our restaurant is not in line with your dining preferences. Thank you for your time, and we wish you well." Needless to say, telling a loyal customer of nearly 30 years to "find alternative dining arrangements" simply for providing constructive feedback on a survey is an astonishing approach to customer service. Subsequent attempts to reach Hillstone management went unanswered (despite receiving email read receipts). It is incredibly disappointing to be treated this way after decades of support. If you visit Houston's, you will likely get a good meal--just be aware that if they ask for your feedback on a survey, you might want to keep it to yourself. read more

My family of 3 visited Houston's last night to celebrate our daughter's 24th bday. We've always enjoyed the ribs, burgers, salads, and fish sandwich. Last night, food was only meh. We appreciate the ambience and the vibe of the place, despite hardly ever dining at chain, mall establishments. Important to note that our server Lauren was a pro and helped make our visit so pleasant. read more

Solid restaurant- never a disappointment. Never had a bad meal. This time roasted salmon with veggies & friend had steak. We both thoroughly enjoyed the meals & great cocktails. Sat at the bar- had great service. Place was buzzing & always busy. Pretty interior. read more

Boohoo goodbye Thai steak salad. Well it's pan Asian now but it doesn't come with steak anymore. read more

Houston's Restaurant - Thai Steak & Noodle Salad - American Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

Same review as always. First class restaurant. Great food. Great service. Always reliable. read more

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I love the food at this location specifically because they cook with wood chips so you can taste that Smokey flavor. I usually come here for the steaks but they stopped taking cooking temperature requests.. So now I just get the Buger instead of a steak.. My Cheeseburger came out perfectly, great flavor all around and cooked perfectly to my liking. Fries were great as well.. I had to start with their huge baked potato which did not disappoint at all. Actually it's my favorite Baked potato on earth so far. My friend had the half chicken which looked amazing and tasted as good as it looked. Our waiter, Arron, was very attentive and accommodating throughout our meal. That was pleasant. And as far as the restaurant atmosphere, it's always been a great and perfect experience. They have really nice lounge style music playing lightly in the background, so no loud music blasting in your ears. Overall it was a great time and meal. I'll be back soon. Alright yall! Have a great one! -Ray read more

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Houston's is our go-to restaurant for the RIBS, cheeseburger, and the spinach and artichoke dip! The Ribs are still the best I've ever had, without a doubt. They are so tender and fall right off the bone. Houston's is consistently delicious and has a wonderful menu to choose from. Ultimately everything is delicious. A reservation is needed because there are usually long wait times for walk in. read more

Although, I've been to Houston's restaurant here on the West Coast, many times, this was my first visit to this location. Our reservation was for dinner on Valentine's evening. Obviously, a very busy time for the staff. I was meeting my date at the restaurant, and I arrived early to bring a beautiful bouquet of roses for her, as a surprise. The amazing Hostess and the entire staff, totally understood the assignment. She was able to receive the flowers and have them waiting for my date, as a surprise on our table. The look on my girl's face when she saw the flowers was absolutely priceless! She was so impressed and several customers and staff members were very impressed with the quality and presentation of the custom bouquet that I designed. Our server was Felicia and she was awesome. She was friendly, professional and provided a superior level of service! The dinner was outstanding. I have always loved the Trout at Houston's and it was amazing! My Valentine had the Salmon and she loved that too. I just want to personally thank the entire team at Houston's for making this such a very special evening! read more

Houston's Restaurant - American Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

I've been coming to Houston's for well over 15 years but hadn't had it in a while and when a friend wanted to meet for dinner we decided Houston's was it. Houston's always has a wait no matter the time of day so we tried to snag a reservation but the earliest was 8:30pm, so we decided to get there a little early and put our name on the list. Our wait time was an hour for our table but we walked the mall and chatted so it didn't seem too long. Once we were seated our server greeted us and took our drink order. She then shared what the daily specials were and took our appetizer order (we went with spinach dip and shrimp cocktail) which were both bangers). Our cocktails took a while to arrive and when they did arrive didn't have garnishes. We don't mention it to the server but she realized that they were just getting to the table when she was walking by and so she asked us if they just arrived to which we said yes, so she apologized, had them remade with garnishes and took them off the check which was such a classy gesture. For our entrees we went with the Hawaiian Ribeye and Salmon both of which were perfection! I only ate 1/2 so I was excited to have the other half for lunch the next day lol. I clearly enjoyed the meal and dining experience so much that I forgot to take pictures of the food and beverages, but, highly recommend Houston's as always ... it's just a tried and true classic restaurant! read more

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Beautiful ambiance, vibes, hostesses, waitresses however, the food isn't what it used to be. - We ordered the Caesar salad (too much dressing) - ordered the rotisserie chicken (the glaze on top was too sweet; the baked potato (way too much butter...looked too scoops of ice cream) - The crispy chicken sandwich (very good but the cold slaw was sweet, had to take it off).. To be fair, I'm not the type that enjoys mixing sweet glaze or fruit in my food (salad with clementines, apricot...etc) They didn't have much of a selection for dessert or caffeine-free beverages. This was our second time dining here within the last three years. Not a bad place, just not my cup of tea. read more

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There are so many ways to do lunch. Busy lunch, social lunch, business lunch and the quick girls lunch. Houston's has become one of our go to lunch places for all of the above. It's easy, everyone seems to have something they can order from the menu. From Salad to French dip sandwich, if you know what to order, the have some delicious items on the menu. For obvious reasons, the establishment does get quite busy so reservation is highly recommended. Waitstaff are nice and establishment is spacious. Has a bar area so if you dine solo, you can walk up and grab a seat if you find an empty chair. read more

This is my go-to spot if anyone owes me dinner :) Been to Houston's numerous times and been to the NY location, Hillstones, always enjoyed my meals there. My last visit, started off with the bees knee ($18) which is a boiled brussell sprouts finished off on the grill. It was good but the only reason I got it was bc they didn't have the grilled artichokes available... I got the French dip ($31) which was delicious especially the combo of the au jus dip and horse radish sauce with every bite. For dessert, got the five nut brownie ($12) and ice cream sundae ($12), all were solid. I like how the chocolate fudge came in a gravy boat for the sundae. Everything I have gotten there has been great especially the Hawaiian ribeye and bbq ribs. Highly recommend trying out Houston's for special occasions or any occasion. Def the spot if someone owes you dinner. * Highly recommend making reservations * Great service * Honey mustard is a must with the fries read more

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Stopped by for lunch last week and as usual, had a very dependable and delicious meal. You can always count on Houston's for some scrumptious comfort food. Service was great, chill ambiance and a greet meal. What more can you ask for ? Pretty amazing after all these years, food quality and service are still top notch. Plan ahead because there's always a wait. read more

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Went for the grilled artichoke, French dip and Scottish salmon. Had not been here in a while. Food was fresh and prices have not skyrocketed like other restaurants however wine is now at or approaching $20per glass. read more

Houston's Restaurant - Scottish Salmon - American Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

I would have preferred to give Houston's in Hackensack no stars ( was unable to post without a star). We were five friends, who do not live locally. We decided to meet at Houston's on a Thursday for lunch. When we all arrived, we asked for a table for 5. We were told we can have two tables near each other. But, we would have to wait because we were wal--ins. Ithen asked if we had made a reservation would we have been able to sit together. We were told only tables near each other. We also asked about tables being pushed together; this could not be done either. I spoke with the hostess and two managers. The three were polite but continually stated, " This is corporate policy," which Is absurd. I initially intended to ask about a private party for 25 people. I decided that Houston's Is not a venue that is accommodating. There are four other restaurants in that strip mall, which were easily available. I strongly suggest eating in a restaurant, which respects the seating needs of diners. I also contacted corporate. read more

Solid lunch spot, grabbed a seat at the bar, the place filled up on a Friday at lunch. Outside parking, or in the lot at the mall. Appetizers: Spinach & Artichoke dip and nacho chips - excellent. Needed more chips there. The cocktail shrimp were good size, cold and not fishy with a good remoulade dip and cocktail sauce. Ice tea was refreshing. The steak - we shared a Hawaiian Ribeye. Delicious sweet and tangy steak that was medium rare. Would do again 100% - teriyaki-like steak. And fries were ok, but not really seasoned enough. The less good: Caesar salad... not sure what it was, but that disappointed. Not sure if there was some bad romaine in there or just off on the dressing (it was salty and bitter salad). The clam chowder - they added artichoke to it, so pass... not a great mix with the overly smoky bacon there. Croutons in the salad and soup were good though. Overall good service, good food, and will be back to try some more! read more

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Had a wonderful time and our bar staff was amazing. It was 3 in our group and I knew exactly what I wanted to drink and so did my sister but when I carried in about how well my drink was, our bartender asked her if she wanted to switch and she was so happy! I just love the one on one attention you get when dining her. The staff makes you feel like you are the only ones in the room and your comfort and accommodations are what matter... they are super great at personalizing you. I can't wait to go again. Out steak was pure perfection and initially we were only there for a quick drink and a single appetizer yet we ended up ordering 4 different things and dining in...enjoying every bite!! read more

I'm always giving this place a chance since I've been coming here since their opening. However every time I leave the place feeling like it's declining and not the same as it used to be. I made a reservation, but still waited 30-45 min for a table. So not sure why there's even such a thing. Especially when there was hardly anyone there that day. For apps, we got the Spinach Artichoke dip and the smoke salmon. Asked for more chips and toast wedges, and they didn't forget! Service was pretty good so far. The dip was still as good. The smoke salmon though didn't have the intense smoke flavor. The sauce with the salmon was thinner than usual. However, we were done with the apps and no one took any of the app plates away. It wasn't until our main course came that they all scrambled to grab the plates. From their beginnings to I'm guessing a few years ago, they would take the empty plates, switch out the used fork and knives, and cleared off any crumbs. Our main course were the chickens sandwich, french dip, ribs and a center cut. The center cut was grilled well, however for the price it didn't even come with sides? I was blown away. The ribs still had that flavor and it was good, however dried and not as knife and fork tender. Chicken sandwich was okay, lacked something because it was flavorless. The prime dip, my usual favorite, was okay. The bread was way too chewy, where I had to pull to break off the piece that was in my mouth. The au jus was too salty. I never noticed until now, but they took away the big corner table for bigger parties. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be coming back. With the price and wait time, I could probably go to a different establishment. Which saddens me... read more

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Houston's is consistently fantastic but these are not shoestring fries like their other locations why does this place always come up in searches for them? Biggest disappointment of Hackensack. read more

This is a first class restaurant. I had the strip steak special. It was cooked impeccably. Perfect. The baked potato on the side was also perfect. It is pricey but you get what you pay for here. read more

Houston's Restaurant - American Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

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Great service April one of the best around!! Atmosphere beautiful little to dark but I have bad eyes!! Food always Delicious my husband favorite!! Hate to complain but the food was off this week French Dip expensive was very fatty and my Traditional salad with grilled chicken always good but I do HATE avocado and it was not listed alot in there!! April offered to get me a new one. But I have never sent food back ‍ read more

The food is always excellent along with the service. Our server was friendly and took our corny jokes in stride. I'd suggest a reservation because they're always busy unless you get there as they're just opening. We had a coupe of great appetizers and the we all ordered the same thing, French Dip. I know, boring to all get the same thing but I was bullied into it and did not regret the choice. read more

Houston's Restaurant - French Dip. Fantastic. - American Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

I'm the biggest fan of every restaurant in the Hillstone group, and this location is no exception. Every dish is perfection! It's honestly hard to order because everything on the menu is fantastic. Some of my favorites are the spinach artichoke dip, the grilled artichoke, the French dip sandwich, the ribs, and of course, the ice cream sundae. And as a bonus, they even pour your martini into an ice-cold glass halfway through drinking it. Such a great touch! read more

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Food was so delicious and cooked to perfection (Hawaiian rib eye, hubby ordered filet). The sides were also delicious (creamed spinach, corn, whipped potatoes). Can't say enough about their artichoke dip (I want more!!). The key lime pie was so yummy. Last but not least, best service I have ever experienced. On time, attentive and super pleasant. 5 stars across the board. Will keep coming back! read more

Very delicious, it felt very luxurious eat here. The staff were so kind and personable. I also loved the atmosphere. I'm still daydreaming about this meal. read more

Houston's Restaurant - American Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

Great service as always but they're always out of the grilled artichokes :( got seated upon arrival with our reservation and put in our orders. The food was brought out quickly with the ribs and brownie dessert being the highlights! read more

Houston's Restaurant - Kale Salad - American Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

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Was a little pricier than used to but the food was VERY good and worth it. Very friendly staff and extremely attentive. Not a big place but it's very intimate and a really nice spot for a date night for any occasion. read more

Waited actually 30 minutes for this water and they left the dirty plate on the table the whole dinner. Once we placed our orders, never saw our waiter again he kept goin to other tables but not ours and not sure why. Whenever I asked water from other servers, they gave a lot of attitude. Very weird service today. read more

Houston's Restaurant - Empty plate - American Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

Food is always on point! The grilled artichokes are my absolute favorite appetizer. Highly recommend. I usually order the salmon but this time I ordered the chicken sandwich which I felt funny ordering at a nice and elegant place like this but i was pregnant & craving it.. but boy they did not disappoint!! Definitely order it! It's delicious, best fries, big sandwich. Overall amazing. read more

I ordered the $69.steak which was delicious and the ceasar salad, the romone lettuce was brown which created a intestinal problem. I was not in good shape. However the service was wonderful. I have been to Houston's several times but this was my 1st time eating a salad never ever again. read more

Tonight, I had the pleasure of dining at Houston's in the Riverside Mall, Hackensack, NJ, and it was an experience worth sharing! The restaurant was buzzing with energy, and despite it being a Tuesday night, every seat was filled, complete with a 30-minute wait. It's clear that Houston's has a loyal following, and now I understand why! Menu Highlights: I opted for the Wood-Fired Rotisserie Chicken with crushed herbs and apricot glaze, paired with a refreshing tabbouleh. The chicken was succulent and flavorful. We also enjoyed the Pan-Asian Noodle Salad, a vibrant dish with mango, avocado, chopped peanuts, and tender barbecue pork. The star of the evening was undoubtedly the Grilled Artichokes, grilled to perfection and served with a tangy rémoulade. These heirloom artichokes from Castroville, California, are a seasonal treat that I always look forward to! Dessert Delight: To cap off our meal, we indulged in a Warm Apple Cobbler topped with candied walnuts and a scoop of creamy French vanilla ice cream. The cobbler was a perfect blend of sweet and tart, making for a comforting finish. Drinks that Dazzle: We also enjoyed two refreshing cocktails: the Crush with Belvedere vodka, pressed grapes, and fresh mint, and the Bee's Knees, a mix of Boodles gin, honey syrup, and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Service Excellence: Our waitress, Francesca, was a gem--kind and attentive, enhancing our evening even more. In conclusion, Houston's in Hackensack is a culinary gem that never disappoints. The fresh, expertly prepared dishes, vibrant atmosphere, and attentive service make it a must-visit for food lovers. Contact Information: Houston's Riverside Mall, Hackensack, NJ Website: [houstons.com/locations/bergencounty](https://www.houstons.com/locations/bergencounty/) Don't miss out on their iconic artichokes and delicious cocktails! @houstonsrestaurants @houstonsbergencounty #foodblog #Houston's #Hackensack #NewJerseyEats #TravelingFoodie212 #FoodieAdventure #DineLocal #ArtichokeLovers #CocktailCulture #DeliciousEats #DessertLovers #AppleCobbler read more

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I've been coming here since it opened and haven't been here in two years since moving to Florida. Always loved the ambiance but now due to thier popularity they have become Hoity Toity as If there on Rodeo Drive. There hostesses are condescending. We were a party of four with an infant and we're mildly scolded and told in the future we will not seat more than four,company policy.I kept my mouth shut and wanted to rip her a new one "I'll do you a favor this time." The menu changed,no more prime rib,or ribs,as well as thier prices,French Dip $31,Burgers $26.we ordered appetizers I had a burger that was stacked 4 inches high,couldn't wrap your mouth around it,All show couldn't taste the burger.The French dip was tough and stringy.Overall I thought it was a far cry from what it once was.Overprice,Overcrowded and too much attitude.Not really an enjoyable evening. read more

I love the spinach and artichoke dip. The crab cakes are amazing and the lemon drops get me all the time.

As soon as we sat they ask for what drinks we wanted .... Like not even a min after. Menu is just one page.... 5 appetizer choices ( 2 of them were artichoke ) We decided on drinks. Appetizer was stuffed artichoke cut in 3 pieces. Size was small. U can cut an artichoke on 4 but they did it on 3 ( think about it ). Drinks came and were basically thrown into the table by a drink runner. Then our server said she was gonna leave and somebody was gonna take over. At that point we didn't know what to do. Either tip for the whole bill or leave something on the side . My main curse was trout that looked like arctic char .... It was ok. I asked the server and she said it was north Hudson River trout .... For a menu so small I don't u derstand what's the big deal about it !! Wouldn't calme back. Nothing special about it read more

Houston's Restaurant - Trout?? - American Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

I was so excited to finally dine at Houston's but unfortunately it did not live up to the hype. The ambiance as you step into the restaurant is amazing. The staff are all very professional and friendly. The salad was great but my entree was covered in so much oil. Against better judgement I ate it and immediately my stomach was aching. The dessert was veryyyyy good. The menu is very limited. read more

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I had never been to Houston's before but my in-laws love this place for some reason. I don't really get it though. It's so dim in there, and the food is way overpriced for what it is. Our party of four came in on a Sunday at around 1 pm for lunch. I thought it would be empty but surprisingly, the restaurant was pretty full. To start off, we had the spinach & artichoke dip (with salsa, sour cream and warm tortilla chips) and the house-smoked salmon (served with Chef's dressing & toast). The dip was fine, nothing to write home about. I thought it was a little odd it also came with salsa, but I wasn't too mad at it. I ended up putting the dip on the toast that came with the salmon (since I couldn't eat the salmon) and then it was pretty good. I think they should swap out the chips for the toast because that's a much better (and fancier) combo. I inquired about what was in the 'Chef's dressing' and the waitress just said "Oh, it's really good!" When I told her I wanted to double check what the ingredients were, I was met with an attitude-y, "What's the allergy?" So, it would be nice if they listed the ingredients of the dressing on the menu, or if they trained the staff to learn what's in the food. For my main, I went with the Ding's crispy chicken sandwich (buttermilk fried chicken, baby Swiss, spicy slaw). This came with French fries. I wouldn't necessarily order again, but it was a pretty decent sandwich. The chicken was good, but the slaw made it hard to eat, especially with such a soft bun. If you don't eat it quickly enough, the sandwich will fall apart, so this sandwich is definitely not meant to be taken home as leftovers. Hubby had the special, which was filet mignon with frites but I'm not sure if it was worth the $65 price tag. MIL had the ribs, which I thought was way too smoky. But the creamed corn she chose as one of her sides was pretty good. FIL had a burger, which looked pretty basic. I would say that the food is pretty much what you'd expect from a chain restaurant. But you should just double the price of what you'd expect from a chain restaurant too. $21 for a spinach and artichoke dip? Gimme a break. read more

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Houston has been my go to for business lunches and some great moments with my friends. The seating at Houston is spacious enough to give you corner booths that feel very private and elegant tables throughout. It's busy in there all the time, yet it never feels like you're cramped. I've always gone with reservation and have always been seated on time. Ambiance: as I write these reviews, I'm starting to realize that I have a thing for dim lit restaurants, because this is no different. Dim lighting with elegant minimal decor, leather seating. All the waitstaff in black and white. Definitely will make you and your party feel like you're the focus with how you're treated there. Food: We started off with a lovely spinach and artichoke dip, chips had 100% more of a pita chip texture as opposed to tortilla chip. I prefer pita chip simply because it's thicker and there's always less breaking. Artichoke dip came out nice and hot. Good on flavor, and they even brought out more chips almost immediately when they saw we ran out to finish off the dip! Ahi Tuna Salad: Im such a sucker for the freshness of the ahi tuna salad. There's never been a time where I've had this and felt the tuna had a fishy flavor. It's always fresh. Salads always hit home here. Especially because it's never just iceberg and protein. Vinaigrette pairings are always light and there's a beautiful crunch with romaine, cabbage, ginger etc. Hawaiian Rib Eye (Medium Rare) with coleslaw instead of baked potato: This Steak was so perfectly, juicy, tender and just melts in your mouth with each bite. This cut can be a tad fatty so if you're more conscious of fat on steak, I'd say maybe ask for it cooked a bit more or opt for something else. I'm someone who doesn't like fat on their meat at all and usually cut it off, but this just encased so much flavor I couldn't help but have a bit of it if it still had some meat on it! Seasoned beautifully, and the coleslaw salad with it just gave it a refresher on the palette with each bite! Loved it! Thai mango salad: This is a noodle salad with a Thai peanuty flavor complimented with mango and some wonderful greens to give you a burst of flavor! Pair all of this with a white and its your perfect meal from start to finish! Overall service: there was never a time we needed to ask for a waiter or water. They always just knew when it was time to come on over to check on us and it's never failed to be that way no matter how many times I went. Intimate setting perfect to cozy up or talk business. Quality service and excellent white glove presentation! read more

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Great food but I think it is a little pricey! My wife loved her salmon. I had a burger that was so good just a tad overpriced! read more

This is still one of my favorite, consistent restaurants in the area BUT it's pretty hard to visit without a reservation or if you aren't there when opening, and if you don't want to wait an hour or so. Make a res online far in advance. If you have a kid, no kids menu, no stroller, no high chair, and hope for the best. With that said, service was great, they proactively removed the (real) candle, they seated us near the kitchen so we were less conscious about loud noises, the diners near us didn't mind, and my kid had a blast. They don't do takeout but will let you take anything you order home. I'm also pretty sure prices went up? - The spinach and artichoke dip is $21. - Kale and chicken salad is $24. read more

If you don't know Houston's then let me tell you... --You come here to impress your date as this is a fancy schmancy high end restaurant with a small bar. --You come here to complete a business transaction... above or maybe under the table, since it does have dim lighting. --You come here for their famous French Dip sandwich... thank me later, and you'll probably end up getting 2 as it is downright amazing and flavorful. Pick your poison... just know that you won't get disappointed here if you choose the sandwich. FYI: Reservations are a must, otherwise the wait time might be foreverrrrrr! read more

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