Jibek Jolu was all I could ask for to relive my time in Kyrgyzstan!! As soon as I walked in, I saw the familiar design, camels, and all the detail that transported me out of Chicago, yay!! It's so refreshing when a restaurant can do this! I wanted my family to experience a glimpse of Kyrgyz food, so of course we ordered all the things only a local would know about ! Shout out to our guide during our trip- he made sure we tried lots of cuisine that was all the way Kyrgyz food! The crispy eggplant is a must and is my favorite ! The eggplant is light and the sauce that is drenched on top is perfect to balance the fried crispy exterior. Next I ordered Samsa, Plov, and lamb kurdock. My husband ordered the beef rib and mash potatoes. Not the most Kyrgyz but he did try everything and loved it all! If you want a taste of central Asian cuisine please come to Jibek Jolu! Don't forget the honey cake! read more

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Beautiful space, delicious food, huge portions. A lot of us hadn't tried this kind of cuisine before or this restaurant so we tried asking our server for recommendations. He wasn't very helpful unfortunately other than naming some appetizers that we tried, though these came after some of our entrees came out. It was also very difficult to get water and refills on water but other than that we loved our experience. We over ordered because again, we were not aware of how big the portions would be and our waiter wasn't very informative: Carrot salad- even as a side this was a big portion to share with delicious light Asian flavors Jibek jolu salad- another great shareable with a tasty dressing and cuts of tender beef Khachapuri- one of the recommended apps, also a big portion to share though we didn't know what to do with the raw egg that came on the side. After flagging someone down to help us, we discovered that this was a delicious cheesy bread with egg mixed in. Crispy eggplant- another recommended app which was delicious and sweet Lamb kurdock- I didn't love this dish it was kind of dry and lacking in flavor but huge with lots of potatoes and veggies Combo skewers- so much meat that was all very tender and flavorful, though it came on one thin soggy tortilla. It would have been nice to have more tortillas on the side to make a wrap. I also tried the chicken tabaka, and this was delicious with a curry flavor. Overall, most dishes were so delicious, but it was a bit of a learning curve on how to order and what to expect. read more

Jibek Jolu - Jibek Jolu and carrot salad - Russian Near Me - Glenview, Illinois

Oleksander was incredible. I want to start off by saying I was in a terrible situation--traffic made me late to my reservation and I had a movie to catch. He walked my friend and I through what to order and everything was INCREDIBLE. I truly can't explain how amazing the Khachapuri is. My friend and I talked about it all weekend. The beet salad was beautifully balanced and fresh as well. Now here comes the awful part, we were having so much fun enjoying our apps that the movie time crept closer and closer. Oleksander quickly pivoted our entrees to go but also brought out a crème brûlée for my birthday. I was so deeply sorry that we didn't have enough time to truly enjoy the experience. My friend made 4 meals out of the plov and she enjoyed it thoroughly. I had the branzino and it was wonderful even to next day! The restaurant is beautiful and spacious! They had cooking shows on TV! If I could give 10/5 stars, I would. read more

I had a lovely lunch here with our toddler after visiting the children's museum. The server was incredibly friendly, the ordering process was quick and easy, and the restaurant itself is clean, welcoming, and very family-friendly. We ordered the Khachapuri and the Classic Plov with tender lamb, and both were excellent. The khachapuri is a must -- warm, cheesy, soft yet chewy, and not overly feta-forward despite having feta in it. Comfort food at its best. The plov is hearty and flavorful, and even our picky toddler loved it. The lamb was a bit on the lean side and tasted slightly dry, but still well seasoned. Overall, a great experience and an easy spot to dine with kids. We'll definitely be back! read more

Jibek Jolu - A plate of rice mixed with beef chunks, sliced carrots, and other vegetables, garnished with cherry tomatoes and quail eggs. A small bowl of red sauce accompanies the dish. In the background, a khachapuri with a baked crust, cheese, and an egg yolk in the center is placed on a wooden tray, with a knife nearby. The setting appears to be a restaurant table with a glass of water and condiments. - Russian Near Me - Glenview, Illinois

Jibek Jolu offers some solid Central Asian flavors, but the experience was uneven and ultimately held back by service and execution. On the positive side, the crispy eggplant was excellent, well-cooked, flavorful, and easily the highlight of the meal. Unfortunately, the rest of the experience didn't live up to that start. Service was very lacking, which was surprising given that there were only two tables occupied in the entire restaurant. Long waits and minimal attentiveness made the meal feel unnecessarily drawn out. The most concerning issue came with the mixed skewers. One of the skewers containing ground meat arrived raw in the center, which immediately ended my appetite. That moment overshadowed what had been an otherwise decent meal and made it hard to feel confident continuing. There's potential here, especially with certain dishes and the atmosphere (looked nice inside but dark), but between the service issues and the raw meat, this visit fell squarely in the middle. Not bad read more

Jibek Jolu - Mixed Skewers - Russian Near Me - Glenview, Illinois

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We gave Jibek Jolu a try for dinner to celebrate two birthdays. The experience exceeded my expectations. The dining room design makes for nice experience whether you want to be fancy or casual. I liked that the tables in many locations feel like you are in your own dining area. The service was friendly and attentive. Our waitress answered our questions about the menu items and made good recommendations. We tried a number of items starting with the borscht, which was surprisingly served warm instead of chilled. We also tried the kachapuri and crispy eggplant as appetizers. Each person preferred their own main course. I had the chicken tabaka with a side of carrot salad. It was delicious and it was a large serving so I got two meals out of it. The restaurant brought out a small complimentary dessert for the birthday celebrations which we ended up sharing. Overall it was a great experience and we will definitely be returning. read more

I absolutely loved this place! The best food! I lived in Kyrgyzstan before and the taste was wonderful! 1. Reservation: yes, you need it. The drawback here is, they want you gone in 2 hours. They will literally come and tell you it is time. You can get offended, but I didn't because they told me beforehand, so I was expecting it. But I wish they didn't have that. 2. Food- wonderful beef tongue- amazing Manti - not good, skip this beef stroganoff- excellent namesake salad - okay, too much greens for me plov - quite good, but I'd say stroganoff is better eggplants - not a fan. 3. Service: excellent, professional, polite. 4, Interior: reminded me of typical Mongolian restaurant decor and considering the shared history, it was a warm welcome. On the dark side. 5. Their Moroccan TEA deserves a special mention! Never, nowhere in America in the last 20 years, have i had a better tea in a restaurant! Must get! All in all, great place! read more

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Jibek Jolu: A Masterclass in Poultry I've eaten a lot of chicken over the years, but this meal at Jibek Jolu truly stood out. It is not often that the food, atmosphere, and service all come together so perfectly. This experience felt complete from the moment we walked in until the very end. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. The lighting is soft but still lets you see the details of the food clearly. It feels calm and comfortable, not loud or overwhelming, so you can actually enjoy your conversation. The tea service with the traditional pot and detailed cups added a really nice touch and made the whole evening feel more special. We started with the bread, which had a crisp crust and a soft, airy center. Spreading cold butter on a warm slice was simple but satisfying and set the tone for the rest of the meal. The Chicken Tabak was unforgettable. You could smell it before it even reached the table. The aroma of garlic and spices was rich and inviting. The skin was perfectly crisp while the meat stayed tender and juicy. Every bite had that balance of crunch and softness that is hard to get right. The chicken breast skewers were just as impressive. Chicken breast can easily turn dry, but these were cooked perfectly. They had a nice char from the grill which gave a subtle smoky flavor. The seasoning went all the way through the meat, not just on the outside. With the herb sauce and rice, each bite felt balanced and well thought out. The service made a big difference. Alex was attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely helpful without being intrusive. He knew the menu well and made sure everything was taken care of before we even had to ask. That level of attention really elevates the experience. This was easily some of the best chicken I have ever had. If you want a place that delivers great food, a comfortable setting, and excellent service, Jibek Jolu is worth it. Huge thanks to the chef and to Alex for making it such a memorable night. read more

Monti, beer , dishes w ambiance Cheburkey needs work Service amazing Will go back Ukrainian and Russian family enjoyed for a higher end experience read more

I was in this place from very first opening periodically ... and tendency is not leading me to be back as often as i would like ... The menu was cut short, portions downsized, prices went up significantly. The worst , the favorable Lunch Special disappeared.... Drinks ... hope it will be better... at least. Although, interior still very nice , would be better to see white tables cover , but owner decided to stick to economic way of business... Service, personal is very friendly, but to get their attention is very complicated, have to stand up and walk to them to order something... Only 2 stars this time , for atmosphere and friendly look of personal... read more

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We dropped in for a lunch date at this big, comfortable, and classy restaurant. I'll go with 4.49 stars for our outing. The wife and I tried and shared 3 items off of their lunch menu - mushroom soup ($7), manty or Turkish dumplings filled with a chopped beef and onion mix (5 for $19), and a lula kebab wrap with fries ($16). Everything was tip top delicious, fresh, and flavorful. The fries were particularly crispy, delicate, and super-fresh. We got the manties mixed, that is, 2 were steamed and 3 were fried. There weren't many patrons here at lunch time, and dinner is apparently their prime business hour. We were also told there is live music on the weekends. It still took maybe 15 minutes for the food to arrive which was no issue, but it all foretold of the menu items being made to order. We were also provided with complimentary warm bread and butter in the meantime. Adele was our lovely and attentive server and who I learned hails appropriately from Kazakhstan. We had a delightful outing here and I only held back from 5 stars as overall the meal still comes out on the slightly pricey side. read more

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Good restaurant with lovely interior and great meal options. I am dropping the rating for the weak buffet that they recently started. We paid $20 each and they make you pay up front, which is odd because how would you add drinks? They ran out of food and were very slow to refill, even the lemon water tank had gone empty. Went up a couple of times spaced out and too much was missing without being refilled. Not nearly enough to make a decent plate. I did enjoy the sweets but for $20, I was disappointed by their limited offerings. Do not try their buffet, it is not worth the cost. read more

Legit middle Asia cuisine Nice staff and exotic decorations Mushroom soup is my favorite thing today. Super creasy and rich with a balanced flavor. Taste just like the French mushroom we had for 4times the price here Samsa beef has great flavor, juicy chopped beef. Could baked a bit high temperature at the end to give more crispy texture Tashkent Plov: lamp is very juicy but the rice is a bit dry. Doesn't really blend the flavor very well Honey cake is very interesting. Got a caramel flavor and not too sweet. Not like the other honey cake we had at other places read more

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To be honest, I didn't have high expectations when I made dinner reservations at Jibek Jolu - but wow, they proved me wrong! The restaurant is beautifully decorated, and the hostess was pleasant and got us seated right away. We had three toddlers with us, so we really appreciated being placed in a corner booth away from the main dining area. The food was amazing! I wish I had more time to truly savor every bite, but dining with kids can be a bit of a challenge. Still, the borscht, chebureki, samsy, plov, lagman, and Tashkent tea completely exceeded my expectations. I left feeling impressed and will most definitely be back! read more

Great food and great service. Went for lunch with a friend and we ordered the crispy eggplant, bread with cheese and skewers- all were delicious. I particularly enjoyed the beef skewers. Can't wait to go back. The menu had a nice variety of dishes and the price point for the amount of food I thought was fair. My only issue was that rice or a side didn't come with our main dishes and was extra read more

WOW!! I've driven by this place a bajillion times and only took the family to try it after a visiting coworker from out of town recommended it after dining here earlier this week. I regret not coming here sooner because the central Asian/Eastern European food here is amazing!! Based on the Yelp pictures, I knew we wanted to try the khachapuri appetizer, which is a Georgian bread with mozzarella, feta, and farm cheese melted inside. It's served with a runny yolk on top, and the egg really elevated the flavors. The pictures on the Yelp reel remind me of a genie's (bread) lamp filled with molten (cheese) lava and a golden jewel (the egg yolk). The actual dish when it arrived was bigger than I was expecting. Definitely getting this again next time! For the entrees, my husband and I got the plov. I tried it with grilled chicken ($18), and he got it with black angus ($25), and the meats were served on a bed of seasoned rice with chickpeas and raisins in it. It was so comforting! I ordered my mini me's the fried pierogi (stuffed with potatoes) and the steamed pelmini, which are dumplings filled with meat and onions. I of course tried them too, and the flavors were fresh, balanced, and satisfying! We splurged and got dessert as well and tried the honey cake ($9), which was light and airy. Plenty of wine, beer, mocktail, and cocktail options here. I had a glass of Sauvignon blanc ($10), and K tried a pina colada (a bit small for $10) and later the seasonal rotating German beer on draft. We both loved that it's served in a frosty cold mug! Walking into this dining establishment, we were unsure of what to expect food-wise and whether the girls would like it, but it was 100% a hit and now my new (to me) favorite restaurant!! Service was pleasant, and the decor is definitely worth a mention too. Lots of unique cultural wall hangings and decor, transporting you from your typical day to day. I can't wait to come back here for a future date night, celebration dinner, or even a weekday lunch! read more

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Came in for lunch on a Saturday. It wasn't very busy when we got there, but they did fill up over the course of about an hour. They took our order quickly, and the soups and appetizers came quickly, but it felt like we waited forever for the main dishes to arrive. I had some of my husband's mushroom soup and samsa which were both really good. The soup had a lovely, deep umami flavor, and the samsa was very pleasantly juicy. I had the beef stroganoff as the main dish which was decently sized and tasted great. It was the first time I've ever had beef stroganoff that was made with potato instead of noodles. It was interesting. We finished up with a slice of honey cake which I thought was just ok. I had honey cake once before at another restaurant and loved it, so this one was a little disappointing, but not necessarily bad. As for the restaurant itself, it was large on the inside, and neatly decorated. I had a lot of time to stare around at the decorations while we waited for the food. read more

Jibek Jolu - Beef Stroganoff - Russian Near Me - Glenview, Illinois

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Yes!!! Came here for my birthday lunch with friends, and Jibek Jolu did not disappoint. We ordered the Khachapuri, Crispy Eggplant, Chicken Plov, Kebab mix, manty, Honey Cake, and Chocolate Lava Cake - everything was SO GOOD. If I went again, I probably wouldn't order the kebab mix again just because of the value - you don't get very much. I also don't regret ordering the honey cake, but probably wouldn't order it again - no reason other than personal preference. Echoing other Yelpers, the appetizers were definitely worth it - the kachapuri was warm, crispy, and creamy, and the crispy eggplant was sooo flavorful. Our server was SUPER - so friendly and professional, and they even added a creme brulee on the house with a birthday song after they found out. We went on a weekday lunch until around 3pm though, so the restaurant wasn't super busy. Even then, the ambiance was unbeatable - would love to come again some day for dinner. Can be a little pricey (around $200 for 4 people), but considering we ordered 2 appetizers, 3 entrees, and 2 desserts, it's worth it (especially for special occasions too) ;) Do give this place a try - the entire experience was lovely read more

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The food at Jibek Jolu was fantastic this week! My husband & I had the Plov, amazing blend of herbs & spices in this dish with lamb, rice, carrots, and peppers. The crispy eggplant appetizer was super delicious with its sweet and sour taste. Our niece had their salad with beef(very tasty) and our grandchildren loved the cheesy bread appetizer. Staff were very helpful with suggestions. Desserts were great, too!***** read more

I don't get it. Because I'm married into a Russian family I'm leaving this review as your plain old American. The food is fine and the service is good. My complaint is there is nothing special about any of the dishes for the steak house prices they charge. Whether it's the soup, kabobs, or plov, I'd rather have any other baba's recipes. Honestly, some of the Russian grocery stores have better flavors to their dishes. So....Jibek is fine...the restaurant looks nice, but the food is expensive for something your Russian in-laws can whip up on a Sunday with minimal effort. read more

This is the second time coming here. The menu has been updated and looks better than when we first came here. Although the quality of the sides have gone down as well as the drink quality. The service is excellent though, server was friendly. The ambiance is nice as well. However, for the pricing and the food we received this visit, I had to lower to 4 stars. It would have been 3, but the service is the main reason for the 4. read more

Jibek Jolu - Russian Near Me - Glenview, Illinois

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Love the food and ambiance. I always go there when I feel like eating good food but don't want to break the bank. read more

The interior was absolutely stunning! Ordered crispy eggplant to start the lunch. Crispy yet tender and savory with a little bit of kick. Main lunch entree was pumpkin Mandy. Served in bamboo steamer. And of course have to finish off with Honey cake. Not too sweet but just the right texture and richness. Their vanilla latte with foam also was tasty. The waiter was very attentive and recommended the Honey cake so glad I took his advice. read more

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8/18 at 1 pm . We had a party of 5 and our sever was Arzan. I believe I pronounced it right. He was so great and definitely deserves acknowledgment. Supper polite, attentive and very helpful . The food was delicious. So many choices. I am glad we have visited this place . Definitely come again to this restaurant read more

Went to lunch at this location. I had the Atlantic Salmon which was prepared wonderfully. Never had a dish prepared and presented with such class (see picture). Our waiter was very attentive. This establishment has a unique style and is really nice. I highly recommend going for lunch because no reservation is needed. I can see how it would become extremely popular in the evening. read more

Jibek Jolu - North Atlantic Salmon - Russian Near Me - Glenview, Illinois

Would see this small place in the city on Lincoln Ave by my old job... met friends at the Glen location and was blown away by the flavors. Waitress Adel was great in recommending starters and entrees. Get the crispy eggplant and the khachapuri to start! Great vibes! read more

Everything was great: food was very tasteful, wonderful service, nicely decorated restaurant. Fried eggplants and plov were delightful. We definitely will come back to this restaurant. read more

Very courteous and knowledgeable staff, I was unfamiliar with the menu and it was a nice enough place to not have pictures. Husband and I went for an anniversary dinner, and very much enjoyed our meal. We look forward to coming back! Try the crispy eggplant!! read more

I rarely give 5s but this spot was so unique and Im so happy to have tried these Central Asian dishes. Its got influences from Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Everything was so delicious and the decor in this place takes you to another country. You feel like your there. Check out the pics for our apps And entrees. Highly recommend the salmon and chicken and honey cake for dessert. 3 apps, 2 entrees, 5 cocktails, tea and dessert = $169 Good service and live music on the weekends. Very authentic experience. Had an amazing GNO. read more

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The four of us enjoyed a wonderful dinner here last night. The food was delicious - manti, cheburek, cheese lepeshka and mushroom soup, loose leaf tea and ajran. The ambiance was awesome. And the best part was our attentive server Erzhan. Thank you. read more

The service was awful. The waiter treated us like he was standing on pedistal and he was looking down on us. His answers were yes and no, no explanation or recommendation. The food is not that cheap and plate is almost empty. For chicken shish kabobs you only get 4 pieces of meat and half of the pita that is so thin that you can see through. All Mediterranean restaurants have more meat with grilled vegetables, regular size pitas, rice or potatoes. At this place you have to order everything separately. The plate where you can order samples of all different meat was gone from the menu. For the money that we spend it was not worse going there. read more

We have dined at Jibek Jolu several times, and will return. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and it always feels like a special occasion when we dine. Many people do dine at Jobek Jolu for special occasions, and they have family style dining for these occasions. Because it's such a popular establishment for family celebrations reservations are recommended. The service at Jibek Jolu has been hit or miss for us. Sometimes the staff is very attentive and can answer questions about the menu & bar without issues. Sometimes when the restaurant is busy and short staffed, the staff is a bit stressed out, and the last time we dined the waitress didn't know the answers to any of our questions about the menu or the beers on tap, and she disappeared without bringing our check. As another review mentioned, when Jibek Jolu is busy with large celebrations and family affairs, there can be children running around the establishment. Very unacceptable. The food and selection is amazing for the most part. We love having a variety of the appetizers, salads, and soups for dinner. The lamb pot soup is lovely. We have tried some of the main dinners, and found the lamb in the stew to be more flavorful and tender than what is served on the kabobs. When set in the bar area I love to watch the bartenders preparing cocktails. They have a nice cocktail menu at affordable prices. read more

Came here with a group and I was very surprised by the amount and quality of the food. We ordered a mix of appetizers and enjoyed all of them particularly the charcuterie plate which had an interesting mix of western and eastern cheese and meats. For my entree I ordered the grilled lamb which was very similar to kefta. It was quite large and I could barely finish. There was also a very impressive drinks and wine selection. Service was very good and the prices were reasonable for what we ordered. read more

Not a fan. The food came out cold, like it's just been sitting out for a while. We had different meats and they were all just lukewarm. Each meat was also bland. The service was ok, the food just took a while, maybe because they left it out for so long. Ambiance was nice, so they get a star for that. Other than that, not recommended. read more

Borscht was good . Limited menu , but skewers were good ( salmon / lamb) . Visited on memorial day weekend and it was busy with a large birthday crowd so servers were busy . Glad I tried it but was surprised by limited menu options read more

Ambiance - ***** Little lights sparkle almost magically. Although it's a large place with ample seating, areas are decorated in beautifully different styles so as to make it feel like separate spaces. Clean lines with an open airy feeling meets sumptuousness. So much attention to detail and beauty, it was like being inside art. I'd go just for the decor. Service ***** Our server greeted us as soon as we arrived, acknowledging that we likely needed a few minutes to peruse the menu. He was back within 2 mins for drinks and helpfully explained the flavors of each beer on tap. We weren't ready with our appetizer selection so he left again but was back within 2 mins. When we ordered our dinners, he was able to explain the origins of different items on the menu and that the rice of the plov was the same regardless of the protein added. I hadn't realized there were a few chick peas in it, not enough for a lot of protein, but could suffice for a vegetarian if needed. The water was constantly refilled. Food: ***** this was my first time having food from Georgia or Kazakhstan so I can't compare it but we both enjoyed our meals. The crispy eggplant was bursting with flavors and the texture of quite crispy on outside but soft and moist inside was outstanding. The grilled veggies were far better than I expected, having thought they'd be fine but boring. Instead they were flavorful and crisp. My friend had the chicken tabaka which she said was well seasoned and tender. I had the lamb plov. I rarely eat meat but grew up with Greek food with lamb so tried it. I was surprised how different the lamb was from Greek food. Not rich at all but still quite flavorful without much oil. The rice had a consistency closer to East Asian dishes, rather than basmati or European rice dishes. The plov was not as flavorful as I expected but as I kept eating it, I appreciated the mild flavor with textures of rice, crisp cooked carrots, chick peas, and currants. If it had been richer or more flavorful, I'd have been overwhelmed half way through. Instead, it continued to satisfy. I wish we'd been able to try the cake but my friend doesn't have a sweet tooth and I can't eat that much on my own. Next time! read more

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The food is absolutely delicious. It tasted good, fresh and it looked good. The desserts are very good .The portion size is not big and it's an individual order . Do order more food if in large group . The service is good. We had a earlier reservation so it didn't take time. Also there's ample seating indoor and outdoor. The ambiance is nice . Need to dress nicely it's a trendy place . Overall it's definitely a place to go back more than once ! read more

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Good Service and Ambiance even better than in Kyrgyzstan. Vey modern and western appeal yet keeping to the authentic food with detail to the meal prep and presentation. Absolutely better than any other locations similar though out all Chicago, as others are catered to there own and cafeteria like but this is in an amazing neighborhood and a much more classier clientele and very nice staff. read more

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Great place to eat in winter! The Khachapuri appetizer was so unique and tasty. The staff was very attentive and suggested some of the favorites and how to eat them. The restaurant is beautifully designed and made our evening complete. Also, it was super affordable in a world of restaurant gouging. read more

Celebrated a birthday and we enjoyed our first time here. Ambiance nice, decor beautiful. Best part... food was very good and tasty. Our waitstaff Aman was friendly and accommodating. read more