Went for an earlier lunch on a Saturday and yes I would go back but maybe order differently. It was all very good but for the cost, we'll it wasn't that good. We both did have a house margarita and a side of quac and queso but I thought it wasn't worth over a hundred. I guess my point is with a completely ala carte menu it adds up quickly, so in the future I'll pay closer attention. I thought the food was pretty good. The service was very attentive, the place filled up quickly after we got there but she still made sure we were good throughout the meal. I liked the decor. I'll come back next Spring / Summer to get that patio vibe. You can't go wrong going here - like I said I'll come back, they just aren't getting all my money read more

Tried this place again today after an absence of at least a year and sorry to say I won't be back. Service was great and the food delicious as always, but I think the time when the communal seating concept was acceptable has long passed. Went at roughly 2pm, during the lull between lunch and dinner when it wasn't terribly busy. We were seated practically on top of another couple at the end of one of the picnic tables. Tight, but just enough room for two of us. When another couple arrived the hostess asked us to slide over and make room for two more rather than bussing and clearing more open spaces that were open further up the table. Seriously, I know it's not peak COVID time anymore, but if I'm dropping $40 dollars for 3 small tacos and a hot dog, I'd at least to have a little personal space. This isn't the college dorm cafeteria. Don't think I'll be back unless they rethink that whole seating concept. The tacos aren't worth that, read more

The tacos here are amazing and they have weekly specials which are also fun. I would recommend getting here early if going on a Friday or Saturday night as they get pretty busy. The atmosphere is always fun and energetic. They have a few communal style tables in the main room which makes for a more family style approach. read more

Absolutely amazing service (I think our server was Jacqueline). Our waitress was so attentive. She offered to explain everything on the menu to my MIL and I. We ordered Guacamole and Chips to start. Guac needed a little more salt, but extremely fresh. Chips came out hot. We ordered 4 tacos. All were amazing. Food comes out extremely quick. Two of our tacos were a little spicy, but still fabulous flavor. It is very loud in here, but still enjoyed a wonderful dinner and a drink. I will definitely be back. Oh, and it was taco Tuesday and we were still able to get in and get a sit at a corner booth with no wait time. read more

Imperial - Tacos - got 4, but already ate two. Got chicken with pineapple and jalapeño, shredded beef, chorizo and potato. The chorizo was the best! - Bars Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

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Must stop place for Mexican food if ever in the Detroit suburb of Ferndale. I came mainly because I was craving some Elotes (they have 2 types - Elote Especial and Vegan Elote Especial without the cotija cheese) but ended up ordering a lot more dishes in addition to that! *Seitan Tacos *Vegan Chorizo Tacos *Vegetarian Sonoran Hot Dogs *Jalapeno-Cheese Tamales *Grilled Jalapenos *Chips & Salsa *Guacamole & Chips *Chips & Frijoles *Churros *Paletas (they have both Boozy Paletas and Non-Alcoholic Paletas) read more

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I would always go to this place with guests for drinks. Imperial had a pretty great liquor selection! If you notice, I'm talking in past tense. Let me tell you why. Like I said, I would stop here pretty often when out in Ferndale to have some fancy, strong and tasty drinks. As of my recent visit, things seem to have changed in a downward direction. Their menu is shrinking (drink wise and food option wise) and it's becoming more "hispter" per say. Meaning that they have food and drink options that are not your typical combinations or pairings of flavors, so you're taking a risk. One menu item that comes to mind, was when we went to brunch, they had a jalapeno biscuits and gravy. Gross. The jalapeno taste was so overpowering, I couldn't finish it. The specialty bourbon concoctions have also disappeared from the menu and I unfortunately can't remember what they are to request them now. I know this location is in "one of those" downtown areas, but don't become "that" place that serves all of these weird things and then nobody comes in anymore. I really miss how this place used to be. read more

Haven't stopped here in ages, mainly bc I'm super impatient and when I'm hungry I can't do a 30+ min wait. But it's so worth it! Got super lucky and wandered in on a Monday night with no wait! We ordered carne asada, fish taco, tacos de papa, imperial Sonoran, and elote. Super fast and friendly service! read more

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Imperial is a favorite for first dates, third dates, hook ups, girlfriends night out, bros getting a bite before a night of partying, and various randoms who love fresh Mexican food. First the food. Never has it been disappointing--the staff in the kitchen have been getting progressively better at consistency and presentation. Food is fresh and servings are large. Good value for the money. Drinks are good as well. Lots to choose from but nothing frozen. Bartender will make whatever you ask for. Service. Has been both poor, average and exemplary. Sometimes the waitress is not in any mood to do smiles. Also not in any mood to listen to complaints or suggestions. Can be a bit off-putting. Also they remember you. Best to ask for a different section if you've rubbed them the wrong way. This time was exemplary. Attentive, friendly, understanding, helpful and seems to like the job! Bravo! Thank your waiter for coming in ready to do the job with a 25% tip! I did! Nachos with chicken were the best any of us had ever had. Enough for 4. $11. Holy smokes. Atmosphere: lots to choose from. The front and back of the house are different. Quiet and more intimate in back, loud and loud sunny up front. Beware--seating yourself in front means you're with the folks who are out to be seen! Loud laughter and drunken voices are common. Bands of Harley Davidsons will ride by down Woodward, ending conversation for a minute. All part of the fun if you have capacity for it! Overall it's a great spot for well prepped, right-priced Mexican food and drinks. But if your server starts out with an attitude--I'd just ask for a different table because it will not improve with time. And BE NICE TO and tip your server! WE NEED THEM DESPERATELY TO LIKE WHAT THEY DO!! read more

I'm not sure what the hype is about with this place. I honestly prefer authentic taco from Taco trucks. To each their own. Pretentious staff that are annoyed with you from the time you walk in, elitism and classim. I'll pass. read more

I have NEVER been treated this poorly in my entire life. I was out with a friend for mom's night out. Key word being MOM here. It was about 7pm and we were denied service. The manager Autumn said she didn't like our "vibe". That was the only explanation she could give. I mean, come on. She could have at least had the decency to say that BEFORE we waited for seats at the bar. What a terrible experience. I used to frequent and recommend this place, but will NEVER be coming back. I will also warn all of my friends from coming to this establishment. read more

I'll begin by saying that I am a taco addict!!! I make them at home, I order them at restaurants and I talk about them daily... seriously I was in the Ferndale area and wanted to try a Peruvian chicken dish I had heard about, so I went to a restaurant and they a supply problem and couldn't make the dish... I was disappointed, but knew I'd find something good on Woodward. I quickly checked Yelp and found Imperial less than 1/4 mile from where I was. I walked over and sat at the bar. The bartender gave me great service and my order was placed. I chose the taco of the week (or day, I can't remember) which was brisket with crunchy onions and other tasty flavors. I also added a chorizo and a carnitas taco to the order. The food came out very fast, I was eating and sipping my tequila in less than 10 min. The flavors were really exciting. Some of my favorite tacos in Michigan. If I lived closer I'd be a regular. This is my type of taco shop read more

Imperial - Rainy outside, but it feels nice in here - Bars Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

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Noisy and overrated. The food is fine, but not anything special. One of my tacos was inedible. The concept is cool and staff were nice.

Right off the bat, I wasn't impressed with their customer service. We were seated at our table, and the floor under the table was COVERED with food. We had to ask to have it cleaned - which in my mind, it should have been taken care of before we were seated. Once seated, we ordered drinks. The drinks were served after we got all of our food. Truthfully, I think they forgot about our drink order. Tons of great options on the menu, and they have weekly and monthly specials. This place could be more vegetarian friendly if they allowed substitutions. They have at least one vegetarian taco on the menu. The food: the mexican street corn was good - but nothing special. The vegetarian/vegan taco of the month was a roasted chickpea taco - which was tasty. They have a brunch, regular, and late-night menu. The late-night menu looked appetizing to me. If you're vegetarian, you can make do for the outing - just wouldn't be my first recommendation for tacos. read more

Get the Nachos! All I can say. Definitely one of the most underrated menu items they have on the menu. And PLEASE bring back the deep fired risotto balls from your late night menu. I miss them! Cocktails aren't always the best, always taste to tart or sweet and never taste balanced. Go for a beer instead. Tacos are always great. There's a reason why there's always a wait when you come in. read more

Tried to come here a few months ago and they said they couldn't seat us. We came within 45- to an hour before closing. Tables were available but they said they stopped serving food so I understood. Called imperial tonight at 9:48 because I didn't want the same thing to happen again. I was advised that they stop serving food at 10:30 by the woman on the phone. Two of us arrive at 10:01 and the hostess said they aren't taking anymore tables. I asked why and she said the manager told her to stop accepting tables. They close at 11 and there were empty tables. I asked why I just called and they told me they stop serving food at 10:30 and are open till 11. She said she didn't know. Well I don't know either. I know one thing though and that this isn't acceptable. I should have asked to speak with the manager but I'm not Karen. We didn't need to go there but why didn't someone just tell me on phone rather than waste our time? I should have been told on the phone and we wouldn't have went. Also, she could have offered carry out since their kitchen was supposedly open until 10:30 but she didn't seem to care. She was doing as the manager told her. read more

Imperial - Me calling imperial before I went - Bars Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

Very trendy place! We went on Friday night for some cocktails and chips and guac. We had the house and strawberry margaritas. They were tasty with decent amount of tequila in it. They also looked cool. Guacamole was good but it was a disappointing amount for 6$. Looked like half an avocado. After spending some more time we chose to order two tacos: Barbacoa and asada. As I frequent to authentic mexican places those were not particularly impressive. Lastly I have to mention that the place is quite expensive for what it's offering. Overall: cool atmosphere, good cocktails, average food and pretty pricey. read more

Imperial - Bar - Bars Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

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Fantastic atmosphere and service. The overall character of the restaurant makes the entire experience memorable.

Imperial is a great bang;) it's cheap and good, just my style. The focus is on tacos. And who doesn't like tacos, who?! There are booths and communal tables. Very casual, very good. Bonus: in summer the little patio in back is a special place to eat. read more

Food =100% Service.... lacking I'm not petty about service, I understand when its busy, I've been in the industry for 20 years. I would just like to apologize to Nate if we inconvenienced him in any way, we certainly were not a priority for him. My husband had to order his drink 3 times. We waited 20 minutes to cash out our tab, I understand that Nate had to make a lot of craft cocktails, but Nate needs to learn how to multi-task. LOVED THE FOOD, would recommend. Maybe we won't sit at the bar next time. read more

Omg first time visiting, every day I'm tempted to go right back... The elote supreme is SUPREME carne asada tacos are great!! Margarita Flight was the icing on the cake read more

First time going and here's my 2 cents. the food was really good. I had 2 El pastors and my date had the veggie taco and we had chips with 3 different sauces and just water to drink. $20 for 3 taco and some chips and salsa? The music was loud.. i could barely hear my date. I felt like i was in a club. So the food WAS good, but not worth the price. I won't say i'd never go back, but I won't go often. read more

I ordered their chicken taco and there black bean taco. I love the taste of the corn tortillas. The service was fast and the waiter was kind and patient. This is also a great place to grab a good mocktail. The Especial Margarita was delicious. This is a quick place to go with a large or small group. The music is a tad loud and there is shared community seating read more

Came on a Friday eve.... Parking: it gets really busy on Friday nights. Had to park a few blocks over as street parking Wait: 30 min wait for community table of 3 (lots of community seating). Ended up having a drink across the street at the Rust Belt market. They'll text you when your table is ready. Ambiance: casual, lively. Bigger than expected!! Food: very vegetarian friendly! They have a special veggie taco of the day. Chips, three dips & avocados - HIGHLY recommend. The sauces were sooooo good!!! Mushroom taco (veggie special) - very good Regular quinoa veggie taco - SO SO good Veggie hot dog - very good! I liked the tacos a bit more, but def worth trying the hot dog. My group also got the jalapeños & loved it. Hit or miss on the spiciness. Be careful of the hot sauces on the table.... I had a drop of the orange one & had to drink 5 cups of water to feel like tongue again haha. Highly recommend coming here! We didn't have a drink, but I've heard they're really good!! read more

Imperial - Chips & dips (highly recommend) - Bars Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

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First time here based on the recommendation and company of a fellow Yelper. (Thanks, Liz!) We went on a Saturday afternoon. There was about a 15 minute wait upon arrival but we luckily found two open seats at the bar. Based on the suggestions of my eating companion, I decided on the Bakersfield Sonoran, which is a bacon-wrapped hot dog with bbq chicken, pineapple, jalapeno onion relish, chipotle aiolo, and queso fresco minus the cilantro. I also got the carne asada taco and the adobada de pollo taco. Lastly, I read so many great reviews about the corn on the cob so I had to try that. Everything was really tasty but my favorites were the hot dog and the corn on the cob. The scene is very trendy and popular. My friend said there's usually a wait but it's probably her favorite restaurant in Ferndale. I heard the drinks were pretty good as well. I'd definitely go back and sample some other items on their menu. read more

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My husband and I decided to head to Imperial in Ferndale for Saturday brunch! We decided to try the Papas Imperial and breakfast nachos from the brunch menu! We were thoroughly pleased with our choices and enjoyed every single bite! I'm gluten free and had no problems so my GF friends can eat worry-free!! I ordered the Imperial Spritz which was absolutely divine! Our bartender was kind, courteous and friendly and we will return soon for another delicious brunch! read more

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This is my favorite taco place! My brother has brought me here a few times and I just love it! The tacos are authentic and full of flavors! The drinks are fabulous! The jalapeño margarita is something you need to try! The environment is very welcoming. Communal seating, is a fun change! read more

Overall score 3.8/5 I love this place, I used to come here a lot but haven't been back in the past 1.5 year but recently came back. I think the reason for not visiting more is because of how packed this place gets in the evening for happy hour and especially the weekend. Plus there are so many new places in midtown and downtown Detroit that it's hard to make the trip back to Ferndale for this place. But coming back here again really brings back the great memories and how good the food is here. I would have given this place a solid 4 but the wait always kills me and the food is good just not exceptional. Most if not all the hotdogs or senoran dogs are awesome. The tacos are okay and the corn or elota is awesome! You won't regret coming here for sure. They also serve great drinks. Lots of communal type tables for you to get to know your neighbors. Oh and they usually have specials on new recipes. - Sonoran dogs/ hot dogs all roughly 3.8/5 - tacos 3/5 - corn 5/5 - chips and dip 4/5 read more

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This place was super solid, and a welcome relief after a terrible experience at another mex spot a few days prior. This spot has great ambiance - very hip, friendly staff, regular check-ins. We got the chips and salsa and they have great chips and three different salsas to mix things up. Hot hot one was a bit much for me, but the other two were delish. Really nice selection of tacos, and surprisingly, hot dogs? I tried the tacos de papa (veg, potato based), the the barbacoa (has the hot hot sauce, but this was not too hot for me), and the al pastor (medium salsa). Flavors were spot on, really excellent. Great service, looked like tasty drinks too! Will definitely be back to check this place out more. read more

Imperial has some really good food and is a fun hang for sure. I've spent many a nights either before a show or as the first stop to a night out at Imperial having good drinks, like a PBR, and some delicious food (tacos, hotdogs, nachos YUM YUM!). Just writing this review makes me miss those bar nights in Ferndale from my youth/pre-covid. read more

Everything here was amazing!! Our table tried almost every taco on the menu. I'm not even sure I could choose a favorite- even the papas con Rojas was really good a flavorful (coming from a girl who a soy always prefers chicken tacos). The guacamole was flavorful and the salads flight wasn't a must try as well. The flight included sauces that varied from mild with a good kick to straight up hot- loved the options!! Would definitely recommend and go back. read more

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Absolutely disgusted with the customer service. I called ahead and asked what the wait would be for 10 people. They said they could seat us immediately. When we got there, they said they would seat us at a long table (and pointed to the specific table) once a couple paid and the table was cleared. The couple left and they set a party of 3 at the table that was designated for our party of 10. When we spoke to the host, he said we had to wait for a booth, but there is no way a party of 10 could fit in their booth. He was unbelievably rude, disrespectful and had atrocious communication. We asked to speak to a manager which he declined and said there was no manager. We later learned that there was in fact a manager. We will never return, and will make sure everyone knows about their blatently rude staff and disrespect. read more

Imperial, the notoriously popular Ferndale taqueria, is known for their delicious inexpensive tacos, and sonoran hot dogs, which inevitably draw in huge crowds and long wait times. I love Imperial but have only been a few times over the years because it is always so incredibly overwhelmingly busy. The best times to go would be on a weeknight or during the day for lunch. If you go on a Friday or Saturday night expect a 1 to 2 hour wait time, which is why I usually choose to dine elsewhere in Ferndale on busy weekends especially if I'm coming out before a concert at The Loving Touch or Magic Bag. The most recent time we came for lunch on a Friday around noon and we were seated immediately at a long communal table. They were still steadily busy for lunch time. The atmosphere is very Ferndale hipster cool, with Johnny Cash and Baz Luhrman style Mary paintings above the lit bar. Seating is mostly community style with long communal picnic tables in the front dining area. There is also seating at the bar and at a wall across from the bar and some more private tables in the dining room towards the rear entrance. If you do venture out, the food is definitely worth it. The menu is designed to order tacos and sides ala carte which is great so you can try a variety of items. Most menu items are around $3-$6. Tacos are only around $3 a piece and are small so I'd probably suggest ordering around 3 tacos or 1-2 with a couple other items. There are around eight taco varieties and a rotating weekly taco special. Some of my favorites are the al pastor taco, a pulled pork taco with grilled pineapple and jalapeño onion relish, and the adobada de pollo, a chili lime grilled chicken taco. The only thing I will say about the tacos is I feel like every time I order them, they seem to be served cold or they cool off extremely fast. The Sonoran hot dogs are very good, and are about $5 a piece and are the equivalence of two tacos. Most recently I had the Bakersfield Sonoran which I would highly recommend. The Bakersfield Sonoran is a bacon wrapped hot dog topped with BBQ chicken, pineapple, jalapeño onion relish, chipotle aioli, queso fresco and cilantro and wow! was it delicious! I loved the blend of flavors and I'd definitely order this again. One of my friends ordered the Chino Sonoran, topped with chorizo chili, chipotle mustard and onions and she really liked it. I also highly recommend their chips and guacamole. The chips are served warm and salty and the guacamole is flavorful and delicious, some of the best I've had. I also enjoy their elotes which are around $3. I was trying a couple things for lunch and I split the elotes with my friend. If you ask, they will cut it in half for you. Their drinks/cocktails are also delicious although a bit pricier around $9 a piece. Their margaritas are only served neat or on the rocks and they don't have frozen margaritas. My favorite drink is the Ring of Fire, a spicy orange tequila cocktail. Overall, great food and drinks, inexpensive, but definitely expect to wait an extensive period of time if you come on a Friday or Saturday night. I'll definitely be back soon but most likely for lunch or during a week night. read more

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Glad to know they will turn off online ordering during busy hours. Turning away maintenance free take out orders. Good business model. read more

Imperial - Bars Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

Food was good. Ambience is lovely with two roll up doors for lots of fresh air. Service was good. We ordered nachos and a Sonoran hot dog. I had it without cheese and without the bun since I'm gluten free and dairy free. The Sonoran was served in a bowl (like your typical soup bowl from restaurants). Nachos were a big pile of awesome. It was served with 3 different type of meats. I'm normally not an onion fan but they purple onion was lovely. I think it was lightly pickled. Unfortunately it took us about 45 minutes to get our food because the kitchen was so backed up. If the wait weren't so long, I would have given the restaurant 5 stars. read more

This place is incredible and totally deserves the name of one of the best places for food in Michigan! The Bakersfield hotdog with pineapple was the best!! nachos were just as they should be! crunchy and delicious and the corn the famous corn was super yummy just pay attention to the fact that it's spicy too! Service at the bar was fast and friendly! and the ambiance is great! read more

Wow, I didn't know I was missing out until I went here. I was hungry and on this side of town and wanted to check out someplace I'd never been to before. Royal Oak and Fernadale have so many good spots it's hard to just pick one when down here. I walked in and loved the way the place was decorated. It was a cold and dreary Saturday afternoon and it was pretty darn busy already. They have community seating here along with a bar, and some tables in the back. Since it was kind of busy and I was by myself, I chose to sit at the bar and eat. I reviewed the menu and the bartender was super helpful in pointing me in the right direction. He recommended either the hot dogs or the tacos, and both sounded really good. I ended up with the tacos, chips, a tasty dip of some sort and a sprite. The dip itself was fabulous and the chips were plentiful as well. When the tacos came out I loved how they looked. Eating them was super filling, but they were spicey! I didn't realize this until my second bite when my lips and mouth started to burn. The bartender caught on and refilled my water while we both had a good laugh. I also got to meet some nice people sitting next to me while dining here alone. It was a man and his daughter and we gabbed the entire time we ate. I loved the ambiance here, and the decor is fabulous for a smaller space. There's plenty of room to move around and sit as well. the only thing I didn't like was they kept turning the lights down and it was hard to see. It was hard to see when I was in there to begin with, but it kept getting dimmer. Are we trying to save money on the light bill or save electricity? It's 4PM and it's just to early to turn the lights down. Please! Anyways, place is fabulous and I now understand why everyone loves coming here. read more

Shana was amazing!! Such great service and super friendly and fun to talk to! The food was amazing (don't pass on the Al Pastor tacos!!!) and the margaritas were super good too! Great prices for the quality! read more

Haven't been disappointed by Imperial yet. Chips and guac, salsa, and are all solid starters. The elote especia (corn on the cobb topped with pablano lime cream and cotija cheese) is an awesome snack. Tacos are fresh and packed with tons of flavors. And bacon wrapped hot dogs? Get out of here if you think that sounds like a bad idea! All of it is great. And while the portions may look small, don't be fooled! Those tiny tacos are quite filling! I think it's those double corn tortillas. I always order three and think, "this is gonna be perfect" but then by the time the chips and guac come and I've picked my way through those I'm only able to get about 2 in before tapping out. But they do make a great late night snack if you take the rest to go. My personal fave of the taco options is the pork with pineapple jalepeno salsa. Not that spicy but still reaaaal good, especially if you're 'bout that sweet/salty combo life. Prices are great and since it's a la cart you can add as much or little as you want to eat. $2.50 a taco isn't really that much more than a fast food bite and it's way way way better. Lots of vegetarian options too (like seitan tacos and veggie dogs) if you're not a carnivore. Lunch for two without booze was a mere $20 and we both left stuffed. Tequila and I had a pretty epic falling out in college but if it's your thing they also have a fantastic selection plus great cocktails and such. Perfect for a quick bite or for drinks and and fun with friends. read more

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There was an hour wait on a Friday, but were able to go to a bar next door in the meantime. They only have corn tortillas, I would prefer flour tortillas but oh well. The tacos were good overall, but would've been better if they had flour tortilla. The chips and salsa trio and guacamole were both really good. Chips were really salty and tasty. Would've preferred frozen margaritas, but the originals were still pretty good. Bathrooms were clean. Staff was overall nice, though I felt like they judged me for asking for flour tortillas.....they did forget to bring out our guacamole initially, but then gave it to us on the house so it was ok. read more

Imperial - Bars Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

Just a heads up in case you didn't know... Monday nights after 5:30 they have Swordfish tacos regularly now. They come as two tortillas with a generous portion of solid Swordfish fillet that's been well seasoned atop them, some pickled onions and orange supremes to accent the profile (I think they change up the citrus option now and then). These are pretty slammin' and for non-seafood lovers like myself these are still delectable and well worth the $3.50 pricetag!!! You're still killing it Jeff! Looking forward to your next great idea! read more