Usually everything here is perfect. Today we got the shrimp & grits, which were too greasy. Instead ordered blueberry pancakes and there were only a few blueberries (about 4-5) in each. Eggs benedict were pretty good, but the eggs seemed small and the Canadian bacon was thin especially in proportion to the English muffin. Our waitress was very nice and accommodating, even in this very busy Sunday afternoon. We'll return, but make a note not to order the shrimp & grits. read more

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Shrimp and grits not great today. The customer service recovery was outstanding. I loved the way it was handled and as a result will definitely be back. Kudos to Christine and Austin. They were awesome. read more

Lena's Cafe & Confections - Philly cheesesteak omelet. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

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The ambiance was lacking as was the meal I happened to order. While I enjoyed the biscuits, I found the grits to be under-seasoned and bland. The toppings, especially the tomatoes, were flavorful but the grits themselves brought very little to the table. The bacon was very soggy, it would have been better to cook it crispy and crumble smaller pieces on top. Not awful, but the recipe could use a little work. read more

Lena's Cafe & Confections - The biscuit was good! I'd order these again. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

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This was an Excellent weekend brunch spot! Their check in system was efficient and you could look in real time at the wait and where others were ahead of you in line. I really loved that check in system! The staff were all very friendly. The food was amazing, although the wait was a tad long, it was DEFINITELY worth it! The Corn Beef hash was incredible, so savory and creamy. It was a great portion size and the eggs were well cooked. My SO got the soul food platter...the fish was AMAZING, I dont know what they coat the fish in, but was just so flaky and delicious. The cornbread was solid, dense and pleasantly sweet. We will definitely be back! read more

Lena's Cafe & Confections - a plate of food - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

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Breakfast was really good- service was fantastic! Kids had CC pancakes and we had omelets! Capp and coffee! read more

Had high hopes for this place. Extremely disappointed. Ordered shrimp and grits and it was swimming in oil and butter. Called to ask about it and was told this was a good option, however when I inquired about the amount of oil/butter they said this is how it is. The person on the phone who suggested it to me then said I don't eat it because I don't like it. Great customer service. Do not recommend going to. read more

Lena's Cafe & Confections - Shrimp and Grits soaked in oil. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

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This cafe is wonderful! There is a parking lot in the back. The inside has beautiful art on the walls, ceiling fans, and comfy couch in the waiting area. The bathroom is always clean. All great signs of a well run establishment in my opinion. I love breakfast! I also love great coffee! Lena's does both very well. A rarity. The coffee lost of variety, espresso, Latte, and served hot or iced with several interesting combinations. Mimosas are also very good here. The food is consistent! I love that!! I show it on a busy Saturday I am served great food from a pleasant wait staff in a timely manner. I show up on Thursday morning, no line no wait less customers, the same great service and great food. I will plan a breakfast here often because it is wonderful here. read more

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This was my first time at Lena's Cafe and it surely won't be my last. We were supposed to eat at Bella's but the wait was 1.5 hours, no thanks. The waitress at Lena's (lady with the short hair cut) was beyond accommodating and sat us within 10 minutes. Our server came over with water and was attentive as we asked questions about the menu. I decided to go with the eggs Benedict which came with home fries. The food was tasty and the service was great. I did place an order of quesadillas to go but I never got them and got billed for it. I didn't pay the bill which is why I didn't realize it till after I has home. Nonetheless, I enjoyed dining in there. read more

Lena's Cafe & Confections - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

Our last time visiting this location wasn't the best, but this time it was much better. My husband was determined to have some decent chicken and waffles and he was pleased. The vibe in here is almost like a hipster college cafeteria without all the pretense. It was a 15 minute wait for us on a weekend and they have a decent size waiting area. It's also helpful they offer coffee while you wait. Once seated we checked over the menu, a good variety with a southern u.s. style for many dishes. Our waitress was average, not overly friendly, but got the job done. My husband had the honey chipotle chicken and waffles and I opted for the crab meat omelette. Everything was good, but we still agree, Bella's food is just more creative and our style. read more

Lena's Cafe & Confections - Crabmeat omelette - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

Wow.. wow... WOW!!!!! Amazing is an understatement! Absolutely delectable! This food should be accessible to everyone in the country!! This is a MUST VISIT!! Every single food item has a flavorful distinct taste!! I will come back just to eat here!!! read more

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I'm giving this a 2 because the food is decent. The portions are ok, but when the description says smothered in gravy, it should be smothered. A tablespoon on each biscuit is not smothered read more

I love this place. So spacious. Awesome place to go to when you want to dine by yourself or with friends. I enjoy eating here by myself & read a book. The food is always amazing as well. I ordered the Challah Bread French Toast, turkey sausage & Coffee this time. The French was so filling. The service is always great. Servers, each time I've been there, always friendly & anxious to help when I need it. Great portions for a great price. Great spot whether during the week or the weekend. read more

Lena's Cafe & Confections - Closer look at my Challah Bread French Toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

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What a great spot for brunch!!! The place wasn't too packed but had a good amount of people eating, so my friends and I didn't have to wait to be seated. After our orders were taken, I was SURPRISED on how FAST the food came out to our table. Plus it was really delicious and cooked perfectly (although my poached eggs were a little more cooked than I preferred). The Crab cake Benedict dish that I got was great, with the side sauce (not the actually hollandaise) they made! I wish I knew what was in it, it went nicely on top of the dish. The crab cake had a nice sear/crust and did not taste fishy. *DEFINITELY RECOMMEND IT!* read more

Lena's Cafe & Confections - Crab Cake Benedict! (My arugula is my ketchup, dont mind that) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

We received excellent service despite it being crowded and 2 servers were in training. Seating was comfortable and covid restrictions were being followed. Since it was our first time there, we order 3 different entrees and shared. I highly recommend the pancakes. They were perfectly brown and fluffy. My only recommendation is that they list the beverages on the menu. We will most definitely be back! read more

I've been coming to Lena's for almost 2 years as I work nearby. The space is huge and bright and is our go to brunch/lunch spot in New Haven. Almost everything we've had has been delicious. Skip the French toast and mushroom panini, BUT the Chicken & waffles, corn beef hash, Sante fe burrito, Jessica salad, vegan salad, wraps - all YUMMY. I'm disappointed that they got rid of the veggie burger as the vegetarian/vegan options are not plentiful. But they are great about removal / substitutions. Menu online does not always match menu in house, so double check ingredients. Danielle is our favorite server - she is always on point and pleasant. read more

Lena's Cafe & Confections - Rosemary Frittata brunch special without ham - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

I have heard good many things about this place. Finally made it to have breakfast. I figured this would be a good place to get some good comfort breakfast food and catch up with special friend of mine who cane from out of town . Service was great. Our server was super helpful and polite. Mimosas were so tasty along with the food. Shrimp and grits , eggs, home fires, fried fish, everything was good. The portions were very generous as well. read more

Lena's Cafe & Confections - Yummy!!! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

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I came to Lena's not really knowing what to expect. My go to is Bella's across the street. I had an omelette and I wasn't super into the food. The saving grace for me, was the carafe of mimosas. I did have to finish it in one sitting because I couldn't take it to go(another strike there) but I think if I go at a less busy time, or ordered something different, I might like it better. read more

Friendly and quick service, not too bad of a wait, and affordable. The food was solid, though I wasn't super impressed with anything (all dishes that looked amazing on the Yelp photos were specials that weren't on the menu for us). THE SERVICE: I'm rounding Lena's up a star because I left my favorite pen ever at the table after signing the bill. It's not super special, but I'd bought it in Japan 11 years ago and have a lot of sentimental attachment to it. To my surprise, they had it the next day and saved it at the front counter for me! We got to the restaurant half an hour after they closed and they let me come in through the back door to get it. THE COST: $53 total for 3 brunch dishes. Affordable by SF standards, but I hear this is pricey for New Haven. HOUSE SPECIALTY OMELETS: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/lenas-cafe-and-confections-new-haven?select=bzDJ9vNV3C42RP8CFex1Yw#bzDJ9vNV3C42RP8CFex1Yw * Maine Lobster Omelet (fresh lobster meat, chive butter, sherry Newburgh sauce, w/ roasted potatoes & grilled buttermilk biscuit. $16) - 3.5 stars pic: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/lenas-cafe-and-confections-new-haven?select=bzDJ9vNV3C42RP8CFex1Yw#AoA0LeNJZ_sDs6D7FnPHGw I loved that this omelet seemed to be filled to the brim with lobster meat. However, the egg was a little overcooked just a bit - a little hard (I like my eggs soft and fluffy!). The potatoes were crisped just enough, loved 'em. The biscuit was toasted nicely, but was on the dry side. Wished they had house made jams, but they only had those single serving Smucker's packets at the table (albeit in several flavors) BRUNCH SPECIALS: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/lenas-cafe-and-confections-new-haven?select=bzDJ9vNV3C42RP8CFex1Yw#AUxVEZP0EMEVAFY_OyKjoA * Fall Harvest Poached Special (turkey sausage, kale, green onion on garlic bread, w/ poached eggs & butternut squash bisque. Comes w/ potatoes & small salad. $13) - 3.5 stars pic: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/lenas-cafe-and-confections-new-haven?select=bzDJ9vNV3C42RP8CFex1Yw#b8ve8AgbAogrHEV3NwIBTg This was tasty - the bread was a little hard, but everything on top of it came together really nicely. The potatoes were great, the salad was light with mixed greens. * Banana Bread French Toast (house made, topped w/ vanilla mousse, chocolate syrup, caramel sauce. $13) - 3.5 stars pic: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/lenas-cafe-and-confections-new-haven?select=bzDJ9vNV3C42RP8CFex1Yw#5YeqM8IsifWkwfYCSF74sw Definitely unlike any French Toast I've had, and this is my go-to brunch dish so I've ordered a lot! This isn't the usual soggy, thick giant slices of bread that you soak in maple syrup. The slices are small - as you would imagine for a banana bread - and it's soft, but the edges are hard from toasting. You gotta put their butter on each slice, as that tiny hint of savory flavors mixes in really well with the bread. Our receipt: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/lenas-cafe-and-confections-new-haven?select=bzDJ9vNV3C42RP8CFex1Yw#yHkekkcQLS67gLRgQ3vWCQ read more

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First of all Lena's is not Lena's anymore and the first look was although inviting but then we meet the waitress which at first was not when we asked about brunch they had no brunch buffet which I like,anyway there brunch menu was at best a frugal brunch menu consisting of three styles of grits eggs n shrimp chicks or fish chicken waffles eggs Benedict n salmon and not much more !! The food was good otherwise ! This was my brunch experience I'd like to think Dinner Would be better ! read more

OMG!!!!!!! I can't believe i never heard of this place before! The food here is absolutely AMAZING! I had the blueberry pancakes with some kind of riccotta butter cream it was INSANE! My wife had shrimp & grits it was really good!! YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED! read more

Lena's Cafe & Confections - SHRIMP & GRITS!! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

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We went here for breakfast and the food was great. We had the crab Benedict and the challah French toast as well as the burrito. The burrito could have used some more seasoning but it was still good. The egg Benedict was good and we had an apple cider mimosa which was perfect for the winter season. I will definitely be back service was great. read more

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I usually don't buy fish and grits unless I am at a soul food restaurant but " Lena's cafe " proved me wrong the grits and fried fish actually tasted very soulful like a soul food restaurant. Their menu has so many different choices it's not just a limited menu. This actually will be my new breakfast spot for a little while. Decor: okay Customer service: very pleasant Food: sooo good read more

Lena's Cafe & Confections - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

2/24/18 Went here for a quick breakfast and it is not a place I would go back to. The service needs adjusting. When my fiancé and I arrived And we were sat immediately. Our wait staff came over quick to take our drink order and I asked for a coffee. I was told that it is a self service station. This bothered me because part of going out to eat is to receive service not to get things myself. But I thought fine I'll get up and serve myself no big deal, I can use a walk. However, I noticed others were having their coffee brought to them. So, this I found annoying. How are some individuals being chosen to be waited on while others have to do it themselves is beyond me. My fiancé and I decided to share a few plates. The first chipotle chicken and waffles, mushrooms on toast, and pancakes with bacon. As we ordered a group of four walked in and was sat. They not only had their order been taken but they were also served food before us. Needless to say we waited a considerable amount of time before we ate our food. The chipotle chicken and waffles were inedible. The sauce on the chicken was one in general not appealing and overly slopped on the food but two so spicy it impossible to eat. The pancakes and bacon were standard nothing to write home about but at the very least eatable. The mushrooms on toast was amazing. It came with bacon and two eggs served with what I thought was some cream sauce. It was absolutely great and I would want to order that again. When it came to check out our waitress never came back again. At this point it started to fill in the restaurant. So I wanted to wait and give them a chance. No one ever came to check on us after we were served our food not even for drinks. I suppose because I got coffee and it is self served? We waited so long we had to pull another waiter, from another table, to ask if our waitress to bring us our check. The mushrooms on toast was very tasty and worth getting again. But other than that my experience was dismal. I would give only a one star but the mushrooms on toast was so good I gave an additional star. read more

excellent meals great selection large portions and great service you won't go away hungry

Found a hair in my omelette and I was offered a refund, no apology, then if I want a new platter to replace the one that had an employees hair in it I have to buy a whole new one. Used to love this place now I have to choose wisely every time. read more

Lena's Cafe & Confections - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

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Amazing is all I can say. The staff, service, and food was great. I had fish and grits platter that came with cornbread and eggs..so tasty! A family and friends vibe is what I got when I walked into this immaculate place. I would definitely return. The price was inexpensive read more

They're aren't many breakfast places opened early in New Haven, and bf wanted to try some place new. He did his own search and found this place. There's street parking and I think parking in a bavk lot using a side road (saw a car coming out if the side road). The floors were super sticky walking in. We had no wait time on a Sunday morning. The waitress showed us the self-serve coffee and tea station in the back before seating us. Make sure to grab a frequent buyers card at the cash register. ORDER - Midwest frittata: eggs and hash were tasty and well-seasoned. The biscuit is what made bf gaga over the dish. Said it was grilled on the flat top and so much garlic, yummy flavor was stuck on it. - Stuffed waffle: I was pretty disappointed with my choice. Couldn't decide if I wanted to try the brunch special waffles or regular menu pancakes. The cinnamon apples looked like they were from a can. And the dollop of whatever did not taste like mousse, but like pure cinnamon butter. Waffles tasted average, and I wasn't sure where the "stuffed" ricotta part was. So after looking at the pics before coming, I really wanted banana bread french toast or something with nutella but both weren't on the special that day. Overall, it's a pretty busy place that feels quaint in a neighborhood town. The waitress was nice and attentive. Prices are on the high side for brunch food, but I guess the price evens out with the unlimited coffee you get (so not technically free, eh?) I definitely want to come back and try out their other dishes, but the "stuffed" waffle was a miss for me. read more

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If you don't mind waiting over 30 min (each ) to be seated, for the food, and finally for the check....otherwise this could be a 5 Stars place. Update: the waitress never told us that we had to go to the counter for the check. read more

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This review is a comparison between two different experiences at the same establishment. The star rating provided is a reflection of these experiences. The first time I came to Lena's, it was with a good friend of mine. We came at about 9am and we were advised there was about a half hour wait. Time elapsed as expected and we were seated. The food was tasty-- I had waffle with fruit and whipped cream, homestyle potatoes and an apple cider mimosa. I was so pleased with my meal, that I ordered a blueberry latte to go-- marvelous. I was so excited to show others what I believed to be a gem, that I brought my cousin back a week later (today). We attempted to make a reservation, but every phone number affiliated with the establishment led us to a fax machine. Undeterred, we made the 40 min drive down. We anticipated a thirty minute wait (which was reasonable). At the forty five minute mark, I went in to politely inquire about the ETA on a table. I was advised they were working through the list. Then I watched as three parties who arrived after me were ushered in without a reservation. Two of which were parties of two-- same as me. When the third party was ushered in, we opted to leave. There was only one difference between my first experience and my second and that was my companion. I won't be back. read more

Horrible. Six empty tables while customers are still waiting. Lack of effective management. Waitresses do not know how to communicate with one another. No way would we eat here. Bella's is right next door. read more

This is an excellent place to have breakfast. Me and a few of my girlfriends all meet up here every couple of months and enjoy delicious shrimp and grits, fried chicken and cheese grits. The specials are always creative and delicious. The mocha peanut butter latte special this past weekend was very good too! Parking in the back of the building and you can enter through the back as well. Great little place! read more

Lena's Cafe & Confections - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

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Really a lovely unassuming place to enjoy a leisure breakfast with good coffee. Staff is very attentive and parking is more than adequate. I hope they make it work for a long time. read more

Last week a friend and I had a scrumptious brunchfast. We are going back today. I'm not on this side of town often but if I am it's for a gastronomic experience. read more

Food was cooked really nice. My wife and I went there twice and both times I really enjoyed the food first time I had the southern breakfast platter second time I had the shrimp and grits which was really really really good read more

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I cannot imagine how this place has such good ratings. Disappointing and overpriced! The wait for brunch was mismanaged, the decaf was undrinkable, the food was blah, and the place felt sticky and dirty. Crummy non-ambiance. Why is pretty much every place in Westville a disappointment except Camacho Garage?! Won't be coming back. read more

A group of ten of us came here for breakfast. My friend called in to make a reservation for us at 11 for 12. They told her it would be more like 12:30. There is a nice art gallery next door so I looked around in there. Around 12:30 we all started gathering. There were some nice sofas in the back to sit on and there was a station with about 8 different coffees with plenty of mugs, so you could fill up and sip while you waited. I tried just about every one they had. They were not able to pull together tables and seat us until 1:15. This does not surprise me because for some reason great breakfast places in New Haven are few and far between. I have had to wait 45 minutes to get into The Pantry before. It is worth the wait, but you definitely have to plan for it. This place is long, but there really are not a lot of tables. It does give you some room though so you are not all crammed on top of each other. After the wait, everything was pretty good. We all ordered relatively quickly and the food came out fairly fast. I got the shrimp and grits, which also came with two eggs and a biscuit. It was good and there was a lot of it. They had a lot of great sounding things on the menu. They also served Bloody Marys and mimosas. Always a plus for a Sunday brunch. Overall, I give it an OK. The food was good and I did not leave hungry. The staff was nice too. read more

Lena's Cafe & Confections - The shrimp and grits (not pictured are the biscuit and two eggs that also come with it) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

The first thing I noticed about this quaint and charming New Haven brunch spot is that it's obvious they want to be more than just another run-of-the-mill suburban diner. They care about quality and service, as apparent from the casual self-service coffee bar to the diverse array of brunch options. The corned beef hash is fantastic, likely the best corned beef hash I've had to date. The corned beef was nicely seasoned and perfectly cooked with a light crunch. It had the same quality as beef you'd get from Katz's deli. Very good indeed. Plus portions were very generous. The french toast souffle house special was mildly disappointing. No qualms about the presentation (a large super-thick cut of challah bread soaked in egg custard and topped with vanilla, cinnamon and crème anglaise), definitely fun to look at, though slightly bland in taste. If you find this to be the case, ask for a small side of powdered sugar or crème anglaise to kick it up a notch, as did the patron sitting in the table next to ours. Overall, however, I'm a fan. Great service, perfectly warm and inviting atmosphere, and a menu filled with brunches, lunches and specialty bakes. Highly recommend. read more

Lena's Cafe & Confections - French Toast Souffle - Challah bread soaked in egg custard with a vanilla creme anglaise sauce (3.5/5) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

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The Pantry? Bella's Cafe? Or Lena's? These are the choices that plague my Sunday afternoon brunch cravings week after week. I've been a patron at Lena's for several months, while simultaneously ping-ponging around the other brunch staple restaurants. Its taken me this long (I pondered long and hard on this one y'all) but I can now confidently proclaim to all - LENA'S CAFE & CONFECTIONS IS THE BEST WEEKEND BRUNCH IN NH. There. I said it and I'm committing to it. Just to be clear though, I'm not saying that the menu options are better at Lena's. In actuality, Bella's menu often has more variety and creativity. HOWEVER, the thing that sealed the deal for me was the vibe at Lena's. I'll choose Lena's over the others time after time. Here's why: 1. The food is scrumptious - While the menu at Bella's may be more creative, the food at Lena's is every bit as delicious. 2. Most spacious - I never feel like my neighbors are breathing on my food. 3. More natural light - I like bright spaces, especially on a happy Sunday afternoon. 4. Last, and most importantly, the staff at Lena's are rock-stars! No matter how busy the place is (and it can get bananas up in there) my service is excellent. This is really the point that gave Lena's the advantage in my book. Will I step out to enjoy the other brunch establishment on occasion? Absolutely, but Lena's reigns supreme in my book. read more

Lena's Cafe & Confections - Cha cha chai latte and banana berry waffles - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

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I love Lena's Cafe for brunch! Everyone is always trying to go to Bella Rosa across the street, which is also excellent, however it's smaller in size and tends to be crowded. In my opinion, Lena's is more spacious and accommodating for those waiting to get seated. They let you get coffee prior to getting sat, and there is a couch area with magazines. Let's talk about the brunch! Like most places, they offer a weekend Specials menu. I always get the poached eggs on top of some sort of corn cake. It comes with meat, potatoes, asparagus, and hollandaise sauce. I consider it a gourmet brunch. Just check out the picture I posted. My belly is happy when I walk out of Lena's. I wish that it was warmer so I could go across the street and buy flowers at the Farmer's Market. read more

My girlfriend and I went to Connecticut to try out this fabled New Haven pizza (we're from New York and take pizza seriously, of course), but we vowed to check out some jazzy little breakfast places while we visited. We settled on our first non-pizza related stop here, and it was worth the ten minute wait. The honey chipotle chicken and waffles were sensational, with a sublet heat in the sauce and a waffle that withstood the heavy syrup. We had peach mimosa pitcher (Bellinis? who cares, it was delicious and got us fairly sauced for 11am), some very serviceable coffee, and were sufficiently stuffed at the end. Staff was attentive and helpful, recommending to get the sauce on the side if I were sensitive to heat, and friendly. Definitely would enjoy again! read more