I had the pleasure of having Nicole as my server. Absolutely AMAZING service! She was very attentive and punctual, providing excellent service! This was my first time coming to this restaurant and am glad to say this is my new Friday unwind spot!! 10/10!!! read more

This is a good place. We were traveling and this was right next door to our hotel so we walked over and tried it. It smelled fantastic outside so I felt good about it. Only issue with the ambiance was the noise. I didn't care for the music or the volume at which it was playing. It was challenging to hear our waiter. He was great, just hard to hear. Every server seemed to keep an eye on everyone. So the service really was fantastic. The salsa and chips were fantastic. Fajitas were great. Needed a little salt and the onions needed cooking a little bit more, but that was the only downside to our visit. We tried the mango flan as well and it was delicious. If I'm in this hotel again, I'll eat here again. read more

La Buena Vida - Durham - Fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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We liked this place originally but after yesterday's lengthy confusing and disappointing visit we won't be back. First, there's a sticker on the front of the menu stating every menu item is now an additional $2. But on Tuesdays they advertise $3 tacos -ALL tacos. So we asked, are they now $5 tacos? And the waitress said, Our special doesn't run today (it was Tuesday) so I asked Why? And she said because it was Cinco De Mayo... Shouldn't you have specials for Cinco de Mayo, not eliminate the one you have? Plus, saying flat out that each menu item is an additional $2 doesn't make sense. A glass of tea? One side of beans? Or how about a 38$ dish? Pasting a sticker on the front of the menu is not acceptable. I know it's expensive to change a menu, but this isn't okay. It screams 'We're doomed'. So we ordered. Two of us are light eaters and ordered a taco each, me with a side of beans. We asked to split the check -we reminded her also later. Charlie ordered fish tacos, B got a veggie bowl. Ok so it was HORRIBLE service. First she only brought three teas/waters-there are four of us. Then, while taking our order she complained about a fellow employee. A lot. Then she brought us (4 people) 2 ounces of salsa and a bowl of chips. We had to ask for more tea and water and sometimes more than once. She came to our table FOUR times to tell us our food was almost ready. We waited 40 minutes to get our food. And it wasn't right. I'll add a picture of my shrimp taco, which had one shrimp chopped up in it. My side of beans was two ounces. Charlie's fish tacos each had MAYBE two ounces of fish-12.99. I couldn't let it slide so I showed my taco to the manager ( whom we'd already met because our food took forever). I asked him if he thought it was acceptable. He looked embarrassed and eventually brought me an additional taco and offered us 50% of our total meal. She forgot to separate the check. She didn't charge us for our individual taco but put it together as a plate, adding more $. We had to ask multiple times for refills, salsa, an extra plate, the check-everything! We tipped her well, but honestly. It was some of the worst service we've ever had. I'm sad to say this place won't last much longer at this rate. We definitely won't return. read more

La Buena Vida - Durham - The amount of shrimp in my taco... - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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I was excited to come here based on the beautiful pictures and atmosphere but was saddened by the terrible service and misleading menu. There were only 3-4 other tables throughout our time there but you'd think it was busy with how infrequent our server came to check on us. Sparse service paired with overpriced menu- everything is $2 more than the prices listed on both the food and beverage menu, and the random 18% automatic gratuity added on?? I was in a group of 3 total people and I've never seen tip auto added for a group this small. We got margaritas that were supposed to have "lava salt rim" - no rim in sight. The server brought over my drink and poured it into a cup and spilled half the drink onto the table (no compensation). My friends' food came out fast but mine didn't come out for another 10 minutes after I reminded the server I ordered food too. Veggie tacos were supposed to have guacamole inside but had only a sliver of avocado on each. Ceviche was supposed to have plantain chips but just had 2 large tortilla chips. There seemed to be a lot of staff but the time it took to have our plates cleared and the checks brought (10-20 mins between each) was pretty ridiculous. I had high hopes but was disappointed, especially when my check came and the up charges beyond exceeded how much I felt this experience was worth. $50 for one drink and a small meal is pretty wild! read more

We came here right at 5pm on a Wednesday evening for my husband birthday. Party of 4: me, hubs, BiL and SiL. Upon entering I was impressed. This restaurant is BEAUTIFUL. Especially if you went here when it used to be Red Lobster, you will be amazed. The decorator and the muralist were highly talented. Truly gives you a wonderful first impression. Once seated we ordered drinks and chips. The soda came out right away but the beer and mixed drink took a long time. Not really sure why as there were probably only two other tables seated at this time. The server was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. My SiL and I ordered the Buena Vida Burritos ($18 each), which is grilled chicken, chorizo, poblanos, onions, salsa verde, chipotle cream avocado and rice. Hubs and BiL ordered Fajita Quesadillas, $17 each (comes with a side of rice). If I would have know that my burrito came covered in salsa verde, I might have chosen something else, but over all it was tasty. The food was good but honestly underwhelming for the price. Presentation was nice and the amount of time from when we ordered to when we received our food seemed normal. Here is where is starts to go a little downhill...When the server dropped off the food, we ordered another round of drinks. And asked for some more sour cream and salsa (which we had originally ordered to come out with the food.) And we waited. We flagged him down for the sour cream and salsa which he finally brought. And then we waited more for our drinks. We were done with our food by the time we got our drinks. Not sure what was going on with the bar but the server didn't even bring the sodas. The restaurant was slowly filling up but it was disappointing to not have adequate drinks while eating. Then we get the bill...do you know how to make my husband disgruntled really quick? Put 18% gratuity automatically on the bill. For a party of 4. No where on the menu does it state that. I know because I took pictures of every single page to post to yelp. I truly feel like the server did not do his job to the best of his ability because he knew that he was already getting 18%. BUT...the drinks were SUPER fun. And quite tasty. Honestly the best part of this experience. If I were to come back, it would be for the ambiance and the drinks. read more

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I arrived right after noon on a Friday, getting the date wrong with some friends. I decided to stay and eat anyway, since I was meeting them in a few weeks. Happy I did! Aron showed me to a table and got me menus. Chips and salsa (very tasty dark salsa, not the usual red) were out almost immediately. The interior is very modern, with light and plants everywhere - even in the suspended ceiling tiles!! Polished black and white floor tiles, nicely upholstered banquets and chairs, nicely laminated and covered menus for drinks and food, very efficient and personable staff bustling around keeping everything clean and ready for the next guest. (While I was eating, a dining group left a booth, and I promise no fewer than seven different people attended to the cleaning and resetting. It was like a military drill! The menu for lunch is two sides of a large sheet, and had loads of possibilities. I chose the Quesaburria tacos, because they are my new favorite thing. These were really tasty, with house made shells that were crispy fried but not greasy. The gravy for dipping was good, but not nearly enough! Hehe. A side of beans completed the meal. I was going to get a dessert (I was so good yesterday and exercised so hard, I deserved it!) but at $9.99, I decided to let the trés leches compote pass by. I instead asked for en espresso and a side shot of Licor 43. When he told the bartender, they thought I wanted an Espresso 43 cocktail (which is one of my faves), so I wasn't upset with the mistake. Probably enjoyed this more than just the espresso and shot. The music was pleasant without being overbearing. It's nice and cool to me, and I'm dressed for the 94° outside, but those sensitive to the cold may want to bring a wrap. I look forward to my next visit! read more

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Fresh ingredients and tasty entrees in a trendy, inviting space that's great for dates or large groups. I took my dad here for Father's Day, and it was easy to make a lunch reservation and find menu options for my mom who's vegan. Everyone enjoyed their meals and the trendy decor sets this place apart from other more casual eateries nearby. I'll definitely be back and look forward to trying their cocktails. The black coffee I had was wonderful so I have no doubt their drink menu will be just as impressive as their coffee and food. read more

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If you're looking for delicious authentic mexican food, fun cocktails, and vibes on vibes on the weekend, check out La Buena Vida in Durham. The staff was amazing, the bar area was was crowded which was nice and our overall experience was beyond anything we've ever experienced a literal party style tequila flights complete with dancing and bongos my favorite cocktail was the Lucky You (tequila, strawberry, Basil,& lime) My buddy's favorite was the Mood Swing (mint, lavender, mezcal, pineapple) the mexican street corn on the cob is highly recommended. grilled bone marrow with side of ribeye was probably the best bone marrow app in town. birria rolls were crispy on the outside ans bursting with flavor on the inside chicharron preparatory de ceviche: I'm obsessed with seafood so this medley of octopus, shrimp, and fish with cilantro, onions, and avocados was perfect molcajete del mar: another incredible seafood medely dish but with lobster tail, a rich garlicky sauce, and served in a hot stone bowl. my buddy loved the savory carnita tacos with slow cooked pork. La Buena Vida was such a great weekend spot. 4416 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd Durham NC 27707 Located off of hwy 15-501 (for the fellow durhamites, the old red lobster location) read more

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Great Mexican food here. Surprised the star rating is so low. People complain it's expensive, which sure, it's more than your cheap Mexican place. But, the quality is much better all around - food, drinks, experience especially around their show time 8:30 or after. We will definitely be back. read more

This place is absolutely beautiful, an Instagram dream. It's a great place to go and take lots of pictures. A few friends and I went on a Thursday early in the evening. There were only two other tables of people in the restaurant and both of those tables were wrapping up to leave when we arrived. My friends and I each ordered a mixed drink. It took OVER 30 minutes for our drinks to arrive. I was absolutely shocked. I ordered a spicy pineapple margarita and by the time it arrived it was room temperature with no ice in the glass. I imagine my drink was made first. I asked for ice for my drink and the ice never came. I asked for ice again and I was advised that the ice is in blocks and someone would have to chisel off some ice for me. I'm sorry, WHAT?! I did not enjoy my room temperature drink at all but certainly did not have time to wait for another drink. The drinks are beautiful but took way too long to arrive and I still can't believe I was served a room temperature drink after waiting over 30 minutes for it to arrive. I shudder to think how long it would have taken to get a drink if the place was busy. The food was ok at best. The menu was huge with quite an expansive selection. It was hard to decide what to get so I opted for a good go-to item that should be good in any Mexican restaurant. I had the tiras de pollo. It was just ok. The staff members were friendly but friendly staff and a beautiful space is not enough to make me want to return. read more

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Unscrupulous and deceptive!! Please take your business somewhere else.! Went to the restaurant on Cinco De Mayo (May 5, 2026). Starting with the largest offense... The prices on the bill did not match the prices on the menu. Margarita listed at $14.50 on the menu, but charged me $17.00. The entree listed as $16.00 on the menu, but charged me $18.99. And similar situation for the next menu item. When I questioned the waiter, he canceled the transaction and re entered it for the same amount. Then referred me to an obscure page inside of the menu about a menu price increase of $2 or something. Nothing was ever mentioned by the waiter that the prices were not correct in the menu. I honestly think the increased their prices due to Cinco De Mayo. I also think the the owner thought that people would not pay attention to their Bill with the celebratory atmosphere. If you come her, be CAREFUL!!! The service was sub-par. Check in was hectic. We had to ask for napkins. We had to ask for utensils once our food came.They give you one tiny bowl of salsa. You have to keep asking for more. The food was also subpar. The place was loud as it could possibly be. The sanitation grade sign was obscured by another sign. La Buena Vida will never trick me again! If I could give them a ZERO, I would! read more

The food was amazing and our waiter did a great job. The environment is beautiful from the time you walk in the door. My coworkers and I are already planning our next visit! read more

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Very nightclubby, not me scene at all. Lunchtime staff lovely, English fluency variable. The food was a cut above. Chips and salsa much better than other places I have dined. Chips fries in house delicate crunch and corny taste. Salsa on the thick side, well spiced. I ordered lunch Enchiladas Supreme. Tasted great. The way suspect it is actually made in Mexico. Not as as tomatoey as most Americanized restaurant chains. Shredded pork had nice smoked flavor. The Spanish rice had perfect texture, sprinkling of peas and onion in it. I dont drink, but there are nice appetizers and liquor selection. Designed for socializing read more

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Beware! Do not go here! I really wanted to like this place, but both times I went it was such a huge letdown, especially for a restaurant to say they are the best in the area. Let me share why it was such a poor, poor, poor experience. First, we had reservations for a Saturday night, but the hostess had such an attitude. We almost turned and left. I wish we had. Our experience only went downhill from there. The food is mediocre at best. But they charge like it's top shelf. I was so disappointed with the steak quesadilla. They charge me 20 bucks for some rubbery steak. The drinks weren't much better. The LIT was disgusting. It is the worst Long Island iced tea I've ever had. Now, for the worst part, it was the server. She rushed us to order drinks, but we had to ask for water refills twice. She would be gone for long periods of time. The icing on the cake for us was that we had to pay a mandatory 18% gratuity because our bill was over $100. When I asked about the mandatory gratuity our server said that it was all over the menu. I never saw it. Otherwise I would have definitely ordered less. I can see why the server wanted us to order more drinks. It's amazing that you can give crappy service and still get tipped well! I will never come back to this place. Trust me, you do not want to go here! There are way too many other better Mexican restaurants. If they keep up this kind of service and food, they won't be around long. read more

30+ minutes late. Only one person speaks English and he's the only one running around doing every job in the place. My order still not ready and was scheduled a day in advance yet can't be on time yet there's only a couple tables. And I got here first. I don't know if I'm more disappointed about the food being late or the lime on the chips And now To make matters worse! My bag completely fell apart and I lost majority of the sauce and toppings. Super unhappy with the whole experience here!! read more

La Buena Vida - Durham - Super unhappy with the whole experience here - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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The guacamole bar is delicious, as well as the corn on the cob. Prices seemed all right, and all the staff are very kind and helpful. I am giving 4 stars because the noise is unbearable, and they charge 20% for the service (for a party of any size), and, without telling you this, they ask you again to tip. read more

Went around 2:00 pm for a late lunch, food was fast and tasty, had some mocktails which were really fun and tasty as well. the servers were friendly and made good conversation, the inside of the restaurant is so pretty as well! def worth coming back. read more

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Our first visit to La Buena Vida Durham was spectacular. We were seated near the bar with a great view of the whole place. Waitress brought us waters and chips and salsa. The drink menu was extensive but I decided on the Casamigos marg and husband on the Margarona. We were both thrilled with our selections. Mine was not sweet at all -- you could taste the tequila. Husband liked that his was not a tiny cocktail -- it was a big margarita along with the little corona. The presentation of their cocktails is a delight all in itself. For entrees I decided on the La Buena chicken and husband on the Carnitas plate. Again, we were so pleased. Flavor, presentation and quantity all were superb. We're big eaters but both needed to go boxes. Our leftovers were just as tasty the next day! In addition to delicious food and drinks this place has a fun celebratory vibe. There was some circulation of airplane shots with singing and dancing while we were there. Lots of fun but I am too old for shots. Overall a great experience. read more

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If I could, I would give this place a zero I have dined there twice for dinner and today ordered out lunch for my team. We had three orders, all orders were prepared incorrectly, not using the ingredients specified in the menu. The first dinner experience was satisfactory with the requested drinks tasting perfect and food quality very high. For the second dinner there we ordered the premium top shelf reposada tequilas and were served some cheap margarita mix with cheap tequila. The bartender insisted he had used reposado. Today for our carry out, we had requested a rice substitution for beans which did not happen, requested hot sala which we did not get and fried catfish was used for the fish tacos even though the menu says Mahi Mahi. There were no brussel sprouts in the veggie tacos. read more

Love this place. I recently moved to Durham from Miami and it feels like a piece of Miami made its way to North Carolina. The food is amazing, the service is great, and it has a really chic and regatón vibe. Great place for a birthday party, friends gathering or date. Highly recommend!!! read more

Much better food options in Durham! The chips and salsa were good and the drink menu is fun. However, that's where the fun stops. Our dinners were underwhelming for the price point. The fajitas didn't come out sizzling ... wasn't very appetizing. The tortillas were some of the worst I've had. I requested beans as a substitute for the rice, and was assured I could do that. When our dinners came, they brought me rice. I requested the beans -- no big deal. Then came the bill where they charged me $4.00 for the beans. Additionally my husband and I were both up-charged $2.00 more for shrimp on both of our meals even though the menu clearly stated another price. Finally there was a charge for using a credit card that we didn't see advertised. After everything, two meals (a quesadilla and fajitas) and two drinks (margaritas) was over $80 before the tip. Insanely overpriced for what you get and shady practices for sure. Eat elsewhere! read more

Horrible Experience - Avoid at All Costs We had one of the worst dining experiences ever at La Buena Vida in Durham, NC. The service was absolutely terrible from start to finish. The host was rude, unaccommodating, and seemed completely uninterested in helping us. What should have been a simple dinner turned into a frustrating ordeal that dragged on for over an hour because the host kept getting our bill wrong--multiple times. Even after we clearly explained and confirmed the order and pricing, he continued to overcharge us. We literally had to stand there and watch him recalculate each item just to make sure it was correct. To make things worse, he added a gratuity after all the delays and mistakes, which felt like an insult after the way we were treated. The restaurant was practically empty, yet our waiter acted as if he was overwhelmed and busy. At one point, he even said, "I gots too many stuffs to do." Totally unprofessional. The food itself was mediocre at best--overly salty--and the table was sticky when we sat down. The drink was just okay, nothing special. We were visiting from out of town, and this experience left a terrible impression. I almost never write reviews, but I'm doing this because I don't want anyone else to go through what my family and I did. I honestly don't know how this place has positive reviews--they must be fake or paid. Never again. read more

A really unique dining and bar experience! The food and drinks were better than expected and the service was great! They do fun birthday celebrations and it's very high energy. They do play loud music and have flashing lights during these mini party like shows but if you're up for it, it's super fun! read more

When I say I was not expecting what we got. I will start out by saying our server Tony was fantastic. He was patient and offered suggestions as it was our first time here. The food was great and drinks were even better. I had the chicken rolls and a side of rice and black beans. Both my husband and daughter had the barria ( sp) quesadilla with rice. The only complaint for them was it was very cheesy and not enough meat. I had the strawberry margarita with sugar rim and husband had some drink with a corona turned upside down in the drink. But what came next, we were not expecting. They turned off the lights and here comes The Mask ( character). It definitely changed the atmosphere. Just a suggestion for people who choose to bring the family, know that after 8pm,it becomes like a club scene than restaurant. If you have children with ADHD and or auditory sensory issues, please do not bring them. It was too much for my daughter. We will be back, just without her. read more

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The drinks, service, and food were great. We also enjoyed the atmosphere. The only warning is they add an 18% automatic gratuity and a fee for using a credit card. read more

The experience was so fantastic, I forgot I was still in NC! We sat at the bar and Marlene our bartender was awesome! Drinks, perfect! And the manager Julio came out to welcome us. He explained that the amazing art on the walls were all hand painted and the atmosphere was designed to be celebratory! We will be back! Food wonderful! read more

Really good food, a little pricey. I did enjoy the place but when a happy birthday celebration happened, it was very overstimulating. Still very entertaining. Service was okay. read more

Great food great staff great atmosphere. This isn't just any Mexican joint this place is a Jumping Joint

Food was way too salty not good quantity. Atmosphere wasn't great I was expecting more Hispanic music. Service was great read more

Let me start off by saying I was stoked to come to this location but left highly disappointed. For starters the place wasn't very busy but took the server almost 10 minutes to come over. I decided to order a appetizer, which was the cheese dip, never came out until AFTER the food came out to which they still gave it to me but didn't give me chips so it still went uneaten. Second, my boyfriend's water had white stuff floating all in his cup and had to double check mine to make sure it was clean. Now for the food... it appeared to be 1 cook on a weekday night so I can understand certain things but when my boyfriend's food came out it was cold to the touch and very dry. My food was barely lukewarm and looked like it had just been thrown on there. I never had such sad looking fajitas in my life. Mind you it took about 30 minutes for the food as well (40 minutes for the queso dip!!). Boyfriend's food had to be taken back, and by that point he didn't even want to eat. I ate half the fajitas and took the rest home... now that it's the next day I'm highly regretting eating there as now I have food poisoning and cannot leave the bathroom. Very disappointed, will not come back again. read more

Authentic Mexican food. Authentic Mexican atmosphere. Authentic Mexican staff. This is really good stuff. Good pricing. Salsa is fantastic recipe! read more

Oh what's a fun time we had. Went here for a birthday celebration not knowing what to expect. It was fun, lively and a constant movement. The food was great!! I wouldn't trade it for a minute. I heard it's a party on the weekends. Take some friends and go. I had tacos and sushi- they did good. read more

terrible service my drinks took 30 minutes to come, I asked the manager to take off steak from my fries, because it was just straight fat. the manager came to my table insisted to remake the meal just to end up charging me for it at the end. I told them I didn't even eat any of steak and they told me they weren't going to take it off. Not worth the 70 dollar bill. read more

Food and service were top notch. We went after seeing the reviews on the Raleigh/Cary restaurants. Would definitely recommend. read more

La Buena Vida - Durham - Enchiladas Supreme - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Just finished our second visit and it did not disappoint! Food and service were just as good as the first time! They have also done an amazing job with the decor. This place is great for a date night, or fun night out with friends and family. Highly recommend!! read more

This was my first time and the experience was good until we questioned an item on our table. We ordered burrito but were given an enchilada. The menu say speedy combo can be ordered with burrito, taco(soft or crunchy) quesadilla, enchilada(red sauce). So when we advised we got an enchilada instead of a burrito the waiter( Gabriel) became combative and argumentative. He was extremely rude and dismissive. The waitress(Loannie) was missing for most of our experience and we even had to ask someone to go and find her as we needed service. She was not educated on the menu and had no answer for the majority of the questions asked. I was excited about coming and was quickly disappointed. I would not recommend this location based on the lack of customer service. There needs to be more training on how to deescalate instead of feeding into the issue. But by far Gabriel was one of the worst waiters I have ever encountered. Please make sure you ask if the burrito comes with Red Sauce before placing your order because according to Gabriel that's how all there burrito's are sold even though the average Mexican restaurant only serves red sauce with the enchiladas plus the menu never mentions red sauce with any burrito. read more

La Buena Vida is located in a spot that could be easy to miss (where Red Lobster was formerly located in Durham), next to La Quinta Inn just off Hwy 15-501, but don't miss it!! This new restaurant is beautifully and tastefully decorated; it welcomes you inside as soon as you enter the front door, but the real surprise is how wonderful the food and drink tastes! The staff are very friendly and helpful. They make you feel welcome and comfortable immediately, and as soon as you taste your food you'll be glad you came in. I had a top-shelf margarita and Enchiladas Supremas. My wife had a Shrimp Bowl with a strawberry margarita. Both of us were amazed at the quality and vibrant flavors of both the food and drinks. There are many Mexican restaurants in the Durham/Chapel Hill area, but this restaurant stands "head and shoulders" above all the others! You must experience it for yourself to appreciate it! Don't miss out! read more

I would give higher stars but I simply cannot just for joy of being entertained. Once seated, it took the waitress 25 minutes to come take our orders. She was busy doing the "show" I guess. The restaurant was totally dark and everyone had to use their phone lights to see the menu. My first drink was good, but the 2nd was awful. I sent it back only for the bartender to tell me to piss off by sending back a glass of straight lime juice. A skinny marg should be an easy enough staple to make. The attitude from the staff was unreal during this exchange. Icing on the cake at the end of the night when I tried going to the bathroom only to find both were out of order. I let the staff know this was completely unacceptable with a restaurant full of people drinking. Thank you for a fun time but you cannot pay premium prices for lack luster dining. read more

Lobster enchiladas are delicious and good for sharing. I could only eat one. Got delivery, next time will check out the service.

The service was good with a couple of glitches. The food was excellent. However, the music was way too loud. The TV screen rolling scenes showed multiple scenes of nude bodies at the beach. read more