Lil' Barbecue has a reputation coming as an offshoot of a Texas BBQ powerhouse. I've never been to their Texas location so I have no way to compare the two. On it's own this place is a strong choice for BBQ. It's done a bit differently here than some other places. For example the wings (Wing Wednesday) are heavily smoked. The prices are not cheap but, very reasonable for the portion size and quality you get. Brisket is what you'd expect and is what I usually get. The sandwiches are good. Mac and Cheese has chilis in it that vary the spice level (sometimes more spicy than I'd like). The Tater Tots are like smashed potato bits and not what you'd expect although I actually like this version as well. Drinks at this location are reasonably prices. They offer several promotions like $10 for 10 wings on Wednesday, Taco Tuesdays and Burgers. Overall, it's worth a visit to see if this is the BBQ that matches your preferences. read more

We were very excited given all the hype and left disappointed though perhaps just not our style of bbq. We got the all meat platter (comes with 2 sides) and opted to sub the chicken for more pulled pork. Pulled pork 2/5 - pretty thick and fatty. Our group did not enjoy this as it was mostly just meat flavor by itself without heavy saucing. Mac and Cheese 1/5 - soupy velveeta style mac and cheese with some bbq spice flavoring. Perhaps just not our preferred style of mac and cheese. Ribs/Brisket 3.5/5 - tender/juicy for both but note that the brisket is a very thick cut style. Smokey flavor with good spice rub but felt like the flavors were missing something to take it to the next level. read more

Lil' Barbecue - The Bob w/extra pulled pork instead of chicken - Barbeque Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Ordered 1 pound of ribs for $26 and i only got 3 ribs. the guy who took my order said i should get about 6 ribs. the guy who delivered the food said the 3 ribs were weighed properly and they were cut big. so each rib was $8???? how is that a good deal? the diet coke wasn't working and they didn't tell me until after they charged me and they didn't have any other diet to offer so the guy said he would refund me the $ but who knows if they will ever do that? and the brisket was dry. and the ribs were not even warm they were served at room temperature. such a let down. the guy did come out and give me one more rib because he felt bad but by then the experience was kind of ruined and i will just go to places where i can get a 1/2 rack for a set price and i don't have to wonder how many ribs im getting and im pretty sure the ribs were way less than 1 lb. read more

I moved to Portland from Austin, Texas over a year ago. I was super excited when this place opened and finally got a chance to go. I used to eat at la barbecue when I lived in Austin, so I had high expectations. My boyfriend and I ordered ribs, brisket, and tater tots. Overall, the meat was good, but definitely not as great as real Texas BBQ. The brisket was moist however it lacked something, but I can't put my finger on it. The pork rib ribs were tasty, but they didn't fall off the bone like I'm used to. The tater tots were definitely not what I expect. They're homemade and they're almost like a potato pancake. To be honest, I'm not sure if I would get them again I would've got the beet ends but my boyfriend's isn't as much of a fan of beets. I will say they made pretty good drinks. I got a house margarita that was tasty. read more

Lil' Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - Portland, Oregon

When you think of the Portland food scene, BBQ isn't usually the first thing that comes to mind, especially good BBQ. So when I heard about Lil' Barbecue, I had to check it out. I moved here from Texas and spent years living in Austin (where their sister restaurant, La Barbecue, calls home). That alone set the bar high. I went on a weekday, early, because it was my first visit and I wanted a little bit of everything. I ordered it to go. The space is roomy with plenty of seating, plus easy street parking. It's located in the Woodlawn neighborhood in NE Portland, which makes it a convenient stop. Let's get this out of the way: barbecue like this isn't cheap. But you're paying for the time, the craft, and the slow-smoked love that goes into it. Service was just okay, nothing over the top, nothing terrible. You're here for the food anyway. The Must-Trys Brisket. Tender with a beautiful peppery bark and flavorful crust. This is the real deal. Sausage. Great snap when you bite into it, nice spice, total winner. Ribs. Fall-off-the-bone tender with that same deep, smoky crust as the brisket. Cheesy Mac. Creamy with a little kick thanks to green chiles mixed in. I loved that touch. They offer two sauces: - Yellow sauce (mustard-based). A fan favorite for a reason. Tangy and bold. - Original BBQ sauce. The perfect balance of vinegar and sweet. I also tried the Caesar salad, it is what it is, but the thin slices of parmesan are a nice touch. As far as taste goes? This is the best BBQ in Portland. It genuinely took me back to my Austin days, just without the two-hour lines. That's where my 5 stars come from. If you want a glimpse of real Texas flavor in Portland, this is your spot. Bring your friends. Come hungry. Enjoy read more

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Stopped in while visiting Portland with family. Lil barbecue was new but had a good buzz. Quick and easy ordering at the counter and opted for some drinks - margarita and strawberry lemon drop , both great. For food we shared the brisket, ribs and two sides. The rest of the family went all out with the holy matrimony that comes with everything meat, sides, and Texas toast. Everything was good, the Mac and cheese was a little heavy but this is a great spot for meat lovers. Parking lot is a little on the smaller side with some other stores in the same small shopping center. Overall a great meal with great people. read more

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Excited to try this place as the big sister restaurant was a Michelin star spot. We left underwhelmed to say the least. The spot was great with cool vibes inside, tvs playing the football games on Sunday. We decided to get The Bob to try the meats but they didnt have anymore pulled pork which was disappointing. We were impressed with the chicken and the brisket, which were both deliciously seasoned and so tender. However, we felt that we've tasted better ribs and sausage elsewhere. The sides were pedestrian. Didn't expect much with the Caesar salad but the tater tots was disappointing. They tasted more like mochi tots than the crunchy tots we were expecting. Their "Texas toast" wasn't thick at all and seemed like plain white toast. The drinks at Tough Luck looked good and the margarita I had was yums but we'd go again probably for the chicken thighs... highlight of our experience here. read more

Lil' Barbecue - Chicken thighs, sausage, double brisket (they ran out of pulled pork), ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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I am glad that I finally got a chance to try this place out. They do open earlier in weekends, which makes easier to get to for me. I would recommend ordering the "Holy Matrimony" as it is pretty much a little of everything including the sides. It makes ordering easier. We also added some chips and queso to the order. The brisket was super tender and easily falls apart. The sausage was full of flavor. The tater tots were probably my favorite side followed by the Mac and cheese. Those tots were amazing! It's not like your typical tots. I can't wait to go back and try some other combination of food or just get it all again. read more

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The brisket was extremely tender, deliciously fatty & juicy. The pork ribs were well seasoned and fall off the bone. Not enough smoky flavor tho. The beet burnt ends was a nice addition- very creative spin! I didn't like the texture of the Mac n cheese. It could be creamier. It was a perfect day to be out on their patio and could be a nice place to hangout and have some drinks. read more

Still working out the process it seems. So giving a four star for now. We ordered brisket, pulled pork, coleslaw, tots and the Midori slushy . We were sitting waiting for our food and they came around to say they were out of pulled pork and offered chicken or more brisket as they had also ran out of ribs. We picked brisket. They had told us they were already out of sausages. I really need to try the pulled pork which is my normal go to for testing out BBQ. The tots were unique as they were homemade, bigger and creamier but confirmed no mayo or sour cream. The brisket amount was generous maybe since they ran out of pulled pork. Some pieces were more tender than others. The flavor was very good but I still tip my hat to Podnahs for better flavor. I enjoyed the Midori slushy and it did have decent alcohol in it. Very busy on a Saturday night and inside was full but have more outside seating. Not very relaxing atmosphere not really knowing where to order as they say at the bar but no one spot to go to. They need to make that more clear like Fire On The Mountain is a good model. We sat down when some ladies left and saw a server wiping another table so asked her to clean ours. She quickly questioned if the number on the table was ours and if we ordered, yes.... Said nothing and cleaned the table. Lady next to us said something about that was odd, almost scolding us for sitting at the table too soon. They have some TVs around with the sound off. Hopefully they will work out the kinks quickly. There is no fried chicken so not sure why the first reviewer said there was. read more

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This is some top-notch BBQ. Do not worry about that. Actually, there's nothing to worry about. I had the pork ribs which were large and tender and pretty juicy and a little bit fatty in a good way. The coleslaw is really good and fresh and crunchy and pretty deep flavor in the dressing. The tater tots are unique squares of mashed potato and are pretty good. One tip that I thought was super interesting is the dish they kind of aim at vegans called Beet Ends (a play on the barbecue term burnt ends, but these are not burnt). They are beets, cooked until tender and then flash fried and then coated in a sweet barbecue salad dressing sort of thing. Could be an entree or could be yet another side to share. They're pretty good. Both the service and ambiance are pretty nice given that it's a fast casual and buss it yourself sort of place. Lighting and music and noise level are pretty reasonable somehow even though it's kind of cavernous and super busy. read more

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I haven't had much barbecue in the Portland area, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say this might be the best. Went all in and got the Holy Matrimony because I wanted to try everything. The brisket, sausage, and pulled pork were my favorite - juicy, tender, delicious! Sides were decent as well, but the tater tots are gold!! I will absolutely go back just for those! read more

Lil' Barbecue - All the sides - Barbeque Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Hmm some bias since I just got back from Texas. Charging for pickles and toast is criminal imo. Overall, I thought it was decent but I wish I hadn't gotten the Mac. It was a watery mess and so unpleasant. The meats were alright. Somewhat tender and flavorful. I'm not well versed in Portland bbq but I hope there is better out there. read more

Lil' Barbecue - Ribs, sausage, brisket, pickles and Mac - Barbeque Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Been several times. Great staff, atmosphere. Favorites? The ribs. The brisket has been good, but just short of mind-blowing. Probably my all time favorite for flavor and value is Wing Wednesday. 10 meaty wings for only 10 bucks? Crazy value and crazy good wings. Same for Burger specials. Value and super well made burger. Only thing that didn't bowl me over were tacos on Taco Tuesday. Kind of a greasy mess and not a huge amount of flavor. Regular menu is solid. Sides are fine, nothing really a revelation, any trip here is worthwhile. read more

The Portland outpost of Austin's La Barbecue, Lil Barbecue delivers and brings another big hitter to the city. My first bite was a piece of sausage. That one bite took me to Texas. A nice link hitting you with spices and a peppery bite. One of the things I loved about all the meats here is how black pepper heavy it was. The brisket was probably my favorite brisket this week. Such a smoky and peppery bite seasoned throughout. The flat was so moist and again the peppery bite from the bark just made it amazing. The chicken was probably my favorite meat today. The nice crispy skin on the thigh that just cracks with every bite. I'm full from yesterday still but that devoured that meat. Eating my veggies here was a delight. The Cesar salads had me feeling I was underdressed and like I paid for valet parking. Way better than what I've gotten at a lot of fancy restaurants. Oh the tater tots! First of all, I didn't know tater tots were allowed to be not cylindrical. And I didn't know tater tots were allow to be this good. I think if you get any side. You need to get these. Lastly the "nothing fancy, just like you remember it" banana pudding. It's a lie. It's not normal. I ordered it expecting something like Buc-ee's pudding and nope. The only think resembling "normal" was the Nilla wafers. A really creamy and stretchy(?) pudding. Think marshmallow fluff. It had a floral and citrusy flavor to it too. I'm so confused. But so delighted. But also so confused. "Just like you remember it" lol. One of the best parts, they are open 7 days a week (hrs change from weekends to weekdays). So if you want bbq on a Monday a wonderful stop. Maybe I'll get that banana pudding again. Lol "Nothing Fancy" read more

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It's good bbq but not the best that you can get in Portland IMO. What stood out was the tots and chicken thigh. What was disappointing was the ribs and brisket (not quite tender). Also would like to see more bbq sauce options. read more

Lil' Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Probably one of the best bbq restaurants I've tried in Portland!! We went late Friday night and were disappointed to hear they were out of some of the meats. For us two, we got the brisket, their special sausage, Caesar salad and Mac n cheese. I thought it was delicious!! The brisket was soft. The hot sauce was so good with the meats but you'll have to ask for them to give it to you. I thought the Mac n cheese was rich and really good. I'm also not a big fan of Caesar salad and thought it was great. The price for everything was surprisingly good! Overall I really enjoyed it and thought the restaurant was really cute. read more

Lil' Barbecue - Brisket, sausage, Mac n cheese, Cesar salad - Barbeque Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Lil' Barbeque at Tough Luck -- Portland, OR Portland has plenty of places claiming Texas-style barbecue, but Lil' Barbeque inside Tough Luck is the first spot in the Northwest that actually made me pause and think, "Alright, they're close." It's not at Austin's Le Barbecue level yet, but it's easily the best Texas-style barbecue I've had anywhere in the NW. 1. The Meats Ribs The ribs were the standout. Fantastic smoke, perfect texture, and that ideal pull that tells you someone back there knows exactly what they're doing with rubs. The technicals: St. Louis cut with Dry Rub. Chicken The chicken was perfect. Moist, flavorful, cooked with intention. Not an afterthought like at half the BBQ joints out there. The technicals: Chicken Thigh Dry Rub. Brisket The brisket had solid flavor but was noticeably dry. Not bone-dry, not ruined, but definitely missing the juicy, almost melting slices that define true Texas brisket. If they lock this in, the whole place jumps a full point. The technicals: Full slice (whole packer trimmed) of point and flat with the fat in the middle. Texas Salt and Pepper dry rub. Pulled Pork Also dry. The flavor was there, but it needed more moisture and richness to keep up with the ribs and chicken. The technicals: Pretty sure this was Boston Butt again dry rubbed. The shreds were large but unebelievably dry. Almost came off as day old. Sausage Classic Texas stye sausage...big flavor, lots of smoke, spicy. 2. The Sides Mac and Cheese Surprisingly delicious. Creamy, rich, exactly what mac and cheese should be alongside smoked meat. Beans Smoky and meaty, thanks to all the leftover trimmings they throw in. Deep flavor and absolutely satisfying. Pickles and Pickled Onions Nice texture and crunch, but missing the brightness and acidity that make pickles really pop. Coleslaw Fresh and crisp but needed more bite and more acid to actually cut through the heaviness of the barbecue. Beet Bites A sleeper hit. The flavor was great, and the crispy exterior was spot on. The interior was a little soft and spongy, but the seasoning and overall experience made up for it. They even look like hush puppies, which only adds to the fun. Salad Didn't touch it. No way I'm wasting stomach space on lettuce at a barbecue spot. 3. Drinks The drinks were excellent across the board. The brandy apple cider slushy was the star. Sweet, boozy, seasonal, and unexpectedly perfect with barbecue. 4. Ambience Tough Luck has that classic Portland bar energy, which means the room was filled with hipsters/homeless (hard to tell who's who) drinking Tecate, which honestly matched the vibe. It's casual, no-frills, and absolutely not trying to impress you with anything other than the food and the drinks. It works. 5. Final Score I'm picky about barbecue, so I'm calling it an 8 out of 10. (For Portland) But it wouldn't take much to push it to a 9 or even a 9.5. If they nail the brisket, it's a 10 out of 10. If they don't fix the brisket but fix the pulled pork, it jumps to a 9. With ribs and sides this good, they're extremely close. Lil' Barbeque isn't "good for Portland." It's good barbecue, period. With just a little more refinement on the star meats, they could hang with the big boys. ps. for this to really be the be all of Texas bbq...they have to nail the brisket. I'll give it another few tries. Sometimes weather and cut can be hard to get right. The best can seemingly get the same out of each day and each cut. For me this is the greatest opportunity. Would also love to see them do a dinosaur beef rib. read more

Lil' Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - Portland, Oregon

This spot is located inside Tough Luck bar where you order at the bar and they'll bring your food out. The line went quickly and staff was helpful in pointing out what was good. We ordered the barbecue, sausage, ribs, mac and cheese and beans. Everything came out in a timely manner. The brisket and ribs were flavorful. The sausage was an interesting texture. The sides had some good heat to it. Plenty of tables but it does get busy. read more

I grew up in Texas and I approve this barbecue. Everything is tender. Queso is solid, good with chips but also with their tots. Drinks are strong. We've come here a few times already. read more

Solid addition to Portland BBQ. Really tender and flavorful brisket. The ribs had good meat but were a little bit too peppery for me, although some might like that. Barbecue sauces were solid and the service was very friendly and fast and a great overall vibe. I'll come back to check on the smoked chicken thighs and sides. It's nice to have other options besides the usual suspects. That's what makes the world go round read more

Lil' Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Came for bbq on a Sunday afternoon. I got there when it first opened so was able to order right away. I didn't really have time to browse the menu, so I just ordered off the signage at the bar, which only showcases the meats that are available. Got the smoked chicken, pork ribs, and a sausage, along with a hazy IPA. Total with tip was $54. I didn't even think about ordering sides since I didn't study the menu, so forgot. Sat in the patio space because of the sunny weather, and it was an amazingly cooked meal. Everything tasted great and was cooked to the right texture. The only thing I would say is that everything was also dripping with a lot of grease. Maybe that's why there were so much flavor. Not sure I might get the sausage again because it had the least flavor of everything. But definitely would come back to try the brisket and order some sides. Going early sounds like the way to go, especially since there's also very little parking up front. But you can taste a real master in the way they cooked all the meats and tasting the dry rub on everything. Juicy. read more

Lil' Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Great food! Had the sampler platter to share- and all was excellent. Will double up on brisket next time- it was favorite of everyone. Kudos for your spin on tots, not my favorite- but great twist and something different read more

The food is phenomenal. The service is amazing. I absolutely love this place. I had the pulled pork sandwich, and it was bigger and better than Botto's. Plus my food came out in three minutes each time/ read more

I was really excited to try this place and ended up pretty disappointed. I had heard all the reviews from Austin and the Michelin designation made me have high hopes. It started off disappointing when I tried to call to place an order for take out for my friends and I (an order for 8 people). The person I talked to was very rude and said they don't take orders ahead in any way. This makes it quite difficult to time take out for a group. So I asked if they had any estimate of how long I'd have to wait and he said anywhere from 5 mins to an hour. So we went well ahead of schedule and ended up only waiting 20 minutes but this really was not an ideal start to our evening because then we had the food way too early for our group event. It would be nice if they allowed orders over the phone or could have at least given me a better estimate rather than laughing at me for the audacity to ask to place a take out order. Nonetheless, we still decided to try this place out. I was not really impressed by any of the food, we did the whole sampler platter and some additional meat and side orders so we tried everything on the menu. There was nothing really to write home about. I have had a lot of better bbq in Texas, in Ohio, and even in Portland. I hope they try to offer kinder service in the future and I would love to try this place again but so far it has missed the mark for me read more

If 6 stars was available that still wouldn't be enough stars and thats just talking about the staff for starters. The bbq is elite at the worst and otherworldly to be more accurate. There will likely be a line because it's a Michelin star award winning food that picked Portland very purposefully for its community love and support for elevated food. I would eat here every second of every day even if it killed me. read more

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Had the pulled pork sandwich and tots; I'll be back for more. There will be ups and downs any time a place reinvents, or opens a new spot. They seem to be taking it in-stride, and I'm very happy with the new. read more

Lil' Barbecue - House tots - Barbeque Near Me - Portland, Oregon

By far the best barbecue I've had in Portland By far the best barbecue I've had in Portland--hands down. Everything I've put in my mouth here has been delicious. The brisket is absolutely on point: tender, flavorful, and perfectly smoked. I'm especially partial to pork ribs, and theirs are fabulous--smoky without being overwhelming and cooked just right. The mac & cheese deserves a shoutout too. I normally wouldn't go for Velveeta in my mac, but this one is pretty darn good and even has a nice spicy kick. The texture has varied a bit over the times I've had it--sometimes thicker, sometimes a little watery--but the flavor is always spot-on. The drinks are delicious as well, and since it's connected to a bar, it makes for a great overall experience. It's first come, first served, with a super fun atmosphere and great ambiance--perfect for a yummy lunch or a fun night out. read more

As a native Texan in Portland, I've come to lower my expectations of BBQ. This place comes as close to Central Texas BBQ as I could hope for here. Ribs and brisket were smoked to perfection, tender and rib meat falling off the bone. Sausage was solid, not too greasy. The rub is a little saltier than I'd prefer, but that was my only picky complaint. I would rate this the best Texas-style BBQ in Portland. Worth waiting in line for! read more

The meats were very good. The brisket was very moist. The sausage had good flavor. We ordered the Holy matrimony which gave you everything. The meats and the sides. We had carry out and did not get most of the sides. We had to go back and get them. They said the servings were enough for up to 4 people but that was not the case. Maybe 2 people. The place was noisy since the Tough luck bar is there also. read more

I moved to Portland 6 yrs ago from Dallas. This is the closest I have found to Texas bbq.

The BBQ sauces are really good! We tried all the sides, brisket, sausage and chicken. We left feeling disappointed. Let's start with the sides- the Mac n Cheese turns to mush in your mouth, it's way over cooked. The beans were too hard, salad and coleslaw were OK.. The "tater tots" were good as well as the ranch. Now for the meats- the brisket was dried out and certain bites of the chicken were good but other bites were super hard. The sausage casing was way too hard, can't bite through it.. We were also wondering why they don't serve collard greens..anyway.. we probably won't return which is disappointing. read more

The line wasn't too long and 11yo and I decided to sit and peruse the menu while hubby stood in line to order from the bar. Lo and behold server Alex came over and asked if we need anything. I ordered the BOB but they were out of sausages and couldn't double any other meat because they didn't have enough. So we piece mealed. 1# ribs. 1# brisket .5#thighs and 3 sides. We had a bit of a scare when the order came out a there were only two! ribs. Alex investigated and 3 more came out. Whew. That would've been $13 for each rib. Every thing was delish. But especially the brisket. Moist. Juicy. Not too fatty. The ribs had a thick peppercorn crust and was spicy. I wasn't a fan of the Mac & cheese. They are fried and cubed and they tasted like over done fried potatoes. The Cesar was standard but man that Cole slaw-dilly and creamy. Yummo. And the banana pudding-whew! So good. Cardamom undertones that haunted me all night. In a good way. Pretty expensive for us and probably won't go back just because of the cost. Service was good and ambiance is upscale dive bar. $167 including tip. read more

I'm stoked on this place! The Brisket is delicious, the Tater Tots are revolutionary! I'll be back

Its good. Still needs to work some things out. Fried chicken - amazing Sausage - Amazing Sides - Excellent Brisket - Good Pulled pork - good if they have it Ribs - hit or miss read more

Absolutely trash. They say its "Texas Barbecue" , yeah right, the brisket was as hard as rocks and they added coleslaw to the sandwich. Would not recommend if you are trying to reminisce on Texas's glorious barbecue. read more

One of my least favorite places in Portland. Doesn't help that it's literally polluting our entire neighborhood with smoke 24/7, but beyond that the food is so underwhelming. For really great BBQ in the nabe, check out Podnah's! Such a better vibe. read more

Excited for this new place. Ordered The Bob, which is all 5 meats and 2 sides. Overall, the quality of the food was very good but three out of the five meats came out very cold. We would have sent them back if the service at the tables had allowed someone to come back to check in on us. The tater tot side was very good and the macaroni and cheese was also very good. We tried the coleslaw as well and it was fairly forgettable but fresh. The ordering process is very confusing. We went to the counter and ordered and then was told that there would also be table service for us. The night we went it was fairly crowded and table service was slow and inconsistent with only one person on the floor and so people kept going back to the bar to order more food and drinks. I know that this was fairly early after they opened and as other reviews have said it's all part of the process. The two BBQ sauces that were at the table were good felt fairly similar to each other and neither one was particularly spicy. The banana pudding we had for dessert was absolutely fantastic! Overall, a welcome addition to the neighborhood and we are excited to see how this place grows and develops in the next few weeks. read more