I love Mama Lu's so much. It's my go-to comfort spot. I came here with my friends who live in the area and I've never been to the Pasadena location before. We ordered some of my favorites: -Crispy pan fried noodles with seafood -Beef Chow fun -yang chow fried rice -seaweed fish -ha gow -sauteed green beans You can never go wrong with the crispy fried noodles. They're so flavorful and crispy at the same time. and it comes with so much seafood and bok choy so you're getting your veggies in. The beef chow fun was addicting I couldn't stop eating the noodles. The flavor was just too good. I also was very surprised at their yang chow fried rice. The pork meat was so good and the rice was perfectly cooked. If you haven't tried the seaweed fish it's a very unique dish I recommend if you like fried fish, this is a very tasty fish. It's green but it tastes so good. I love ha gow, you can never go wrong with a shrimp ball steamed in rice paper. And always gotta get the green beans in for that veggie dish. The green beans are flavorful and crunchy in the right places. I had a really great time. It's honestly really fun to come here with a big group of people to enjoy a really delicious family style Chinese meal. They also give free peanuts for appetizer and serve jasmine hot tea which gave me so much energy for my dinner! The service here is also really nice the waiters and waitressses are so friendly and helpful. You can always get a refill on your waters and tea. There are also a selection of drinks to choose from. I'm on a no sugar diet because I've been having too much sugar lately or else i would have ordered more! ALSO park across the street! There is a lot for $1 for 2 hours and addition $2 for another hour I think. I ended up only paying $3 for 2 hours and 15 min. Had too much fun at my dinner. read more

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Had Mama Lu's Pasadena recently for delivery on a Friday night and it was just ok. I've had Mama Lu's at the original location several times in the past, before their expansion and it was always good. This wasnt that. Again, this was for delivery... On Friday night, after a long work week. We ordered beef udon with xo sauce ($19.75), salt & pepper chicken wings ($18.75), honey garlic pork chop ($19.75) and beef wrap (roll?) $15.50. The beef udon had a bit of spice that was a little too much for me. The noodles itself had a good chew to them. The beef had good flavor but the dish was a little too spicy for me overall. The salt & pepper chicken wings lacked flavor and was heavily battered. Not that much chopped up chilis & green onion with it. The honey garlic pork chop just wasnt for me. You see it and it looks like salt & pepper pork chop but its not. The sweetness threw me off. Just some fried garlic thrown on top... Not a fan of this dish. The beef rolls, as i know them, from the original location looked like a 'lite" version of what I've come to expect and have had from Mama Lu's. There was not as much meat as typical, not as much cilantro which was fine by me but also some of the rolls didnt have the hoisin sauce. That's what gives it the finishing flavor... There was also none given on the side. Bummed cause I was craving it. Just disappointing. Maybe it would be better eaten there but like I said, I've had Mama Lu's before and this was far from the experience I was used to having. Didnt order the XLB cause this was for delivery and we'd rather not sacrifice the quality. read more

Love the food here first time trying it out. Food service is great here & friendly. I love the dumplings & yang chow rice was very yummy. Very nice atmosphere. It's a good amount for what you get at this restaurant. read more

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My favorite Mama Lu's dumplings House is expanding to Pasadena . It is located in the neighborhood of Old Town Pasadena. Came to have dinner after we did some shopping. I'm always craving for dumplings. It was 4 of us so we ordered few dishes to share. The menu is about the same and now they have a drink menu with different Oolong tea and Green Tea! Of course, we ordered the XLB, Pan Fried Dumplings . These two will never disappoint. We also ordered Seafood Udon with XO Sauce, Deep Fried Prawns Egg Tofu woith mushroom. All these dishes are high recommended. The deep fried prawns were very crispy topped with the fried wonton chips, very similar to Walnut Shrimps. The udon cooked with the perfect texture, I love that they added fish cake! Egg Tofu woith mushroom was my fav. dish of all! It had great flavoe and love the assorted vegetables. The soft fried tofu and snow peas are my favorite. Street Parkings available with meter. Max is 2 hours, costs about $2.15. Or you can park in the structure which they have one at mostly every block. It does cost a little more for all day. or you can pay every 15 minutes. read more

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Mama Lu's in Pasadena completely lived up to the hype and then some. This ended up being one of those meals where every single dish hits, and you leave already planning your next visit. We ordered a variety of dishes to really get a feel for the menu, and everything came out fresh, flavorful, and well executed. The beef rolls were crispy and flaky on the outside with a savory, tender filling that disappeared almost immediately. The dumplings were packed with flavor, juicy, and perfectly cooked. The beef steak was incredibly tender and seasoned just right, and the seafood udon was super comforting with a generous amount of toppings. The fried shrimp had that ideal golden crunch without feeling heavy or greasy. One of my favorite surprises was the fried tofu. It had that perfect contrast of a crispy exterior and soft, silky inside, and it soaked up the sauce beautifully. Such a simple dish, but done really well. And of course, the xiao long bao were the highlight. Each one was filled with rich, flavorful broth that bursts when you bite in. Definitely a must order. The restaurant was busy, which says a lot, but service was still efficient and everything came out in a timely manner. It's a great spot to come with a group so you can try a little bit of everything. Overall, I would absolutely come back. If you're in Pasadena and craving solid, satisfying Chinese food, Mama Lu's is definitely worth a visit. read more

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Came back in after a few months to see how things tasted. Came in at 1:00pm on a Wednesday afternoon. Service was very quick from staff. Location is very light, bright in the new location. I ordered dim sum and it took about 15 minutes to come out. Nice and hot but lacked a little flavor from when it was up the street at the other location. Their selection of hot sauces is good so I was able to spice up the dishes. Men's restroom was OK but my wife said woman's room had a leaking toilet and smelled very bad. I spoke with staff about the changed location thinking maybe there was a change in ownership. They said all was the same as before as far as ownership and staff. Not sure why but just isn't as good to me. I'll probably give it another try in a couple of months. Somewhat disappointed because I really liked it before. read more

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Mama Lu's Dumpling House moved south on Fairbanks to the northwest corner at Green Street. The food is still great as usual and is brighter and cleaner too. We were able to find street parking, but there is also a parking garage across the street. read more

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This is a great location, conveniently located across the street from a parking structure that is super reasonable. I believe it was a dollar for the 1st hour or two hours and then two dollars for the following hour. Once I was seated, I was immediately greeted and set up with a complementary hot tea and peanuts that are lightly fried and perfectly seasoned balance of a salty sweet. This makes it feel like a very traditional dining experience. I also ordered an oolong milk tea! Everything is served family style, what we ordered to share with the honey, garlic, pork, chop, juicy pork, dumpling beef, frappe, and spicy wontons with pork and shrimp. These dumplings are delicious and juicy. There's not one thing I did not enjoy! The tables are set up nicely and everything was clean. They were hosting several large parties during this holiday season. It was a busy Friday evening so I was happy to get seated right away, but shortly after there was a waitlist, so come with the patients. read more

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prices here are pretty good tbh, we got just the two dishes and with tip paid $30. The mapo tofu was very yummy and def needed rice but it was soo good but definitely spicier than I can handle. The rice cakes were solid and flavored and the vegetables in it were also good. the hot jasmine tea is yummy and the nuts are randomly sweet which I wasn't a fan of personally read more

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I always enjoyed the food from Mama Lu's specially their French style beef, seafood pan fried noodles and West Lake beef soup. I was just so disappointed that they took off from their menu our favorite dish - sweet and sour fish fillet. I had lunch with our friends last month and recently they ordered online looking for the sweet and sour fish fillet. Also, was disappointed I am hoping they put back in their menu our favorite dish. read more

Came here after the Dodgers game on Halloween and it wasn't too busy thankfully so we got seated right away. We parked in the garage on Green St which is $1 for 2 hours. The interior was clean and pretty spacious and my first time at this location. I've been going to the locations in Monterey Park for years so glad there's one closer to me now. My bf and I ordered the beef chow mein, salt and pepper pork, spicy wontons and green onion pancake. They came out pretty quickly overall. I thought the beef chow mein was just ok, a little too much gravy and the noodles could've been crispier. The portions are great for the price especially the salt and pepper pork chop. Everything was good, not great but that's totally ok especially for the price in Pasadena. I think they're moving locations but it's close by so will likely be back again. read more

Mama Lu’s Dumpling House - Beef chow mein - Chinese Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Late lunch with mom and sister. My sister was craving dumplings so we walked in to try it here. The dumpling place before was really good. We discovered that this place is more of a Chinese food than dumplings. We tried the two on the menu and their hot and sour soup. They tasted ok. It was busy on a Saturday afternoon. Customer service was ok. The Chinese food nearby tables looked good. We will come back and try it. As far as dumplings we didn't like it so much. read more

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Unfortunately none of the 3 dishes I ordered were any good. The pan fried dumplings were too big and basically a soggy meatball inside undercooked dough. The beef roll was so oily on the outside and did not have enough sauce of cucumbers inside. The chow mein was the best of the 3 but it was still below average. No sauce other than oil and with scrap pieces of chicken. The restaurant is large and clean. The service was quick. read more

The food was so delicious and I seriously loved their tofu with veggies. The servers were also attentive to us and I really enjoyed the meal. read more

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Large portion and taste great. Price was reasonable. Had reservation for 8 people. Parking was in the structure next door off Fair Oaks Ave. read more

The food here is so good. Every single thing we tried was truly amazing. The prices are affordable too, considering the big portion sizes.

I know they are not all related, but every time I've eaten at a 'Mama Lu's', it has been good. This particular location used to be Chef Tony Dim Sum. It was very good but Mama's looks to be just as popular. The XLB Soup Dumplings are juicy. The Pork & Shrimp Spicy Wontons are excellent and the Beef Noodle Soup is also very good. On one occasion, I asked for low sodium soy sauce and they gave me a few packets. On another occasion, they gave me a bottle. The service is a bit inconsistent but, It won't take you too long to get something if you need it. I do like how they serve hot tea without request. I've been here a couple of times now and I will be back. read more

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Fun, classic Chinese dumpling house. It's not anything in the way of extraordinary traditional Chinese cuisine, but if you're looking to load up on soup dumplings and pot stickers with a side of greens, this is your place. Nice and large too, so there's rarely a wait. read more

As someone who raves over Mama Lu's Dumpling House, my opinion has shifted. On a Friday afternoon, I came to this restaurant with 6 other friends, hyped. Our food came out quickly, but there was only one problem, service. First of all, we ordered the beef rolls, and they're all attached, so we requested scissors to cut them. The lady looks at us and says no simply for no reason, at least provide an explanation. My friends and I are just trying to enjoy our time here and the waiter keeps glaring at us. These 2 workers we don't have the name of don't even seem like they enjoy their job, making our experience even more unpleasant. They gave us attitude just for asking for an extra spoon. Besides that, the food was decent... I only go to this location, because it is the nearest one towards home. I normally don't give bad reviews, but I was so disappointed. If you want to try Mama Lu's, go to another location, they're much better... read more

We met up with some family members at this spot for brunch. We were quickly seated (I think the rainy weather was a factor as to why people weren't really out and about in Pasadena). The staff was friendly and attentive and quickly took our orders once ready. They also delivered hot tea and a small serving of nuts as an appetizer. Initially we tried to order the Pork Soup Dumplings (not available for order), Salted Fish and Chicken Fried Rice, Seafood Udon noodles with XO sauce, French Style Beef Tenderloin with Mushrooms, Shrimp and Broccoli, and Sauteed Vegetables. We were a bit disappointed with the lack of Pork Soup Dumplings but honestly everything else was pretty tasty. The food came out pretty quickly and was pretty decent for portion size. Each dish was pretty flavorful and unfortunately I am a bit sensitive to spice (there were a few peppers in the noodle dish along with quite a bit of seafood items , but enough to add a hint of spice). The rice was as good as advertised with a decent amount of chicken and fish included. The beef dish with mushrooms was well prepared and also a good proportion of meat to mushroom and a delicious sauce. The shrimp and broccoli dish was equal portions of each with a tasty sauce. The veggies were also pretty good. All in all, not bad. Service was great and we were just a bit disappointed that there were none of the soup dumplings available to order at that time. The place was pretty spacious and it felt as if once the rain subsided, people started to come in more and more as the time passed. All in all, would definitely check them out again in the future. We ended up ordering way too much and had some leftovers for later on (definitely not a bad thing). For parking, we opted to park on the street and paid a meter (there were also other parking structures with off street parking also). read more

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Came with some fiends in a Saturday night and there was less than a 10 minute wait. Parking here can be a bit difficult but there are parking lots around the area that is cheap. I do like the ambiance here more than other locations. It's big and clean. The food was a bit too salty for my taste. We got their chicken wings and the batter was not my favorite. Their egg white and scallop fried rice was way too salty along with their string beans. The xlb were okay skin a bit thick. We also got their crispy noodles with seafood which was just okay. Servers were nice and let us stay until closing. read more

Mama Lu’s Dumpling House - 71. Salt & Ppper Chicken Wings - Chinese Near Me - Pasadena, California

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The food was delicious. It was my first time trying the restaurant. The service was good. The restaurant was huge inside and clean. I definitely recommend if you are in the area. read more

My go-to chain for Chinese food. Atrocious parking + typical Chinese restaurant interior with chandeliers + long wait time during dinner. Was packed and bustling but our food came out in timely manner. We ordered pork XLBs ($11), spicy wontons ($13.25), shanghai rice cakes ($17.50), hot & sour soup ($13.25), and the sweet and sour chicken ($20). Everything was delicious. The XLBs were bursting with soup. Highly recommend. read more

Mama Lu’s Dumpling House - Chinese Near Me - Pasadena, California

I went last month! We asked our server what they recommended and it did not disappoint! We got pork & shrimp dumplings, green beans, Shanghai style beef, Schwann shrimp, and noodles. This spot is perfect for a date night since it's located in the heart of Pasadena. Perfect for walking afterwards since you will be full with all the food provided! Also, this spot is great for family dining, they have tons of round tables and the dishes are great for sharing. The more people, the better for all the food you get to try! read more

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They have MOVED just down the block, on the north west corner of Green and Fair Oaks. If you go to their former location on Fair Oaks and Colorado, there is no signage they have moved!!! I just stumbled across the new location. Thank goodness! Anyways, the new location is nice but doesn't have the historical architecture of the former, but the restrooms are on the same floor! Hahaha! Food wise, on this occasion was just okay, 2 stars, but this has nothing to do with the chef. The fire alarm kept going off every few minutes so I am guessing the kitchen had some ventilation issues. Our chicken fried rice was definitely not fried( see photo) , and very bland. However the garlic Green Beans came out first, hot and delicious, the Beef and noodles were good too. We never got our juicy dumplings and was told the kitchen or equipment was not working. Nevertheless, I am giving them 4 stars for effort as I know today's experience was due to the fire alarm going off the entire time we were sitting there. We quickly ate and took the rest home. The staff should of comped the fried rice, but... I hope the fire alarm and kitchen ventilation issue is resolved soon. Parking is easy! Park on the city structure on Fair Oaks, just south of Colorado. The first 90 mins are $1. read more

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This was probably the best mama Lu's I've been to. Although it is quite busy, the food comes out piping hot and fresh which I love. The space is huge and modern, and my favorite dishes were the crispy shrimp and egg tofu. If you come to mama Lu's and don't try the other dishes besides the dumpling you're missing out! read more

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I loved their shrimp & pork shiu mai! It was super juicy and the shrimp was plump. The French style beef tenderloin was good too. The sauce is slightly sweet, so I'd recommend it if you like sweeter flavors. The seafood pan-fried noodles were comforting, but the flavor was a bit light. I added some soy sauce and chili oil from the table, which made it even better! I want to explore more of their dim sum menu next time! read more

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Oh that fresh Chinese food real smell is often salivating and endearing, whenever I come back to Mama Lu's Dumpling Restaurant in Old Pasadena. I chose to keep coming back and tonight ordered the same old Yang-chow Fried Rice, with some bacon, shrimp, egg and nicely cooked in light oil and served abundantly. I also ordered the steak with mushrooms to satiate my starving soul of that Hokkien or Fujian smells and tastes. Oh boy, Mama Lu's pot never fail to satisfy my cravings and play with my stomach rollercoaster for the night. Often, it's never easy to decide to have Chinese food for the night because of the perceptions laid on nutrition, obesity and health impact but having the Mama Lu dishes washes all these negativity. So, I ordered a balancing dish for the night, fish fillet and vegetables...walla... white fish probably pollack and lightly cooked broccoli, garnished with carrots, spring onions and the like. The brocolli and other veggies was crunchy to the bite and sweet to the tastes, it does takes me back to my grandmother's time when she would cooked for days and quietly serve a hundred hungry animals (satire) who would eat every morsel ... LOL. So, if you find yourself moaning from Chinese food, don't go to the usual chain restaurants, go for the real thing and enjoy a Mama Lu's Dumpling locale. Oh by the way, their servings are huge and am sure you'll head home with takeaways and extras for whatever you order at Mama Lu. read more

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Tried the new location & ordered several dishes, all good. Very large portions so enough leftovers for another two meals. Definitely will return. read more

The food is good but I wouldn't say it stood out to me. I really enjoyed the egg tofu with mushrooms and the beef wrap. The yang chow fried rice was really lacking in flavor to me as well as the house special fish. Service was ok the new location is large with plenty of seating. read more

The one star is for the waitress who was so darn rude and defensive! Told her the house special fish tasted bad and that it didn't look similar to what was posted on their hard copy menu. She became defensive and walked away angry that I would have the gall to speak up. The spicy wontons had no flavor which had tons of wonton skin but skimpy fillings. The green beans with XO sauce was a huge disappointment as it had tons of salted vegetables and very little XO. The house special fried rice was nothing spectacular. Sometimes, the comments from other Yelpers should be taken serious. There were a few with similar comments about the fish and rice but hey, live and learn. read more

Mama Lu’s Dumpling House - House special fish - Chinese Near Me - Pasadena, California

Quick service as always, food is always hot and fresh. Very affordable pricing for a family meal. When we crave Chinese food -- we always come here. Everything is so good. I havent experienced one bad mama lu day and I hope I won't experience that at all. Would recommend it, if people love a good Chinese food. Servings are pretty big usually good for 3-5 people already. I love a variety so this place is always 100/10 for me. This branch is also more modern than the others. read more

Mama Lu’s Dumpling House - Chinese Near Me - Pasadena, California

This mama Lu is probably the cleanest and most busiet mama lu's I've been too and in my opinion is the best location! Maybe better than Monterey park location? Haha, idk but since I eat mama lus regularly, I think this location makes the best food. A much more diverse crowd and very lively. Even though it's busy the staff are still nice and friendly. read more

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Mama Lu's is one of my go-to spots when I'm craving dim sum. Quality is always good and the service is always quick as well. The staff is always really attentive especially with refilling drinks which I appreciate. Some of my favorites are the Hot and Sour Soup, Fried Buns, and the Spicy Wontons! Definitely recommend if you're craving Chinese food! read more

We met up with friends here on a Friday night and it was quite busy, so thankfully we had a reservation. We ordered the string beans, mamou tofu, spicy wontons, honey garlic pork chop, and chicken fried rice. Everything was really good but my favorites were absolutely the green beans and the spicy wontons, they were so good! Would stop by again if in the area - however, now per the Yelp page it looks like they may have closed :/ read more

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This location for Mama Lu's has speedy service. The moment we walked in we were seated quickly. The restaurant was pretty steady with customers. The location has a nice interior with plenty of painting and artwork. We ordered: #1. Juicy Pork Dumplings (8) #3. Juicy Pork & Crab Dumplings (8) #12. Shrimp, Napa, & Pork Dumplings (8) #108. Sauteed String Bean The food came out fast! We were given complimentary peanuts as well for the table. The Pork XLBs were very sizable and filled with soup. The Pork & Crab XLB was just ok. It didn't have much flavor to it. The Shrimp, Napa and Pork Dumplings were very good! That's one that we would recommend trying. Good mix of flavor with each bite. And of course the string beans are a always necessary and Mama Lu's were savory and addicting. Not mention they give hefty portion of it too. Overall, the meal was about $60 and we had leftovers. Mama Lu's is a dependable option if you're craving some dumplings. read more

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Bomb Chinese food. Portions, quality, taste, and price are fantastic. We had a party of 8 people and waited about 15 min on a Saturday lunch. Service was very good. Food came out quickly. Great place for large groups. We still had a ton of food leftover. What we ordered: Beef wrap Pork XLB Spicy wontons Sautéed string bean Garlic pea sprouts Fried prawn Fried fish fillet Green onion pancake French style beef tenderloin read more

Mama Lu’s Dumpling House - Chinese Near Me - Pasadena, California

Mama Lu's Dumpling House is right in the heart of Old Town Pasadena, which makes it a perfect stop while exploring the area. Parking can be a little tricky, but there are plenty of nearby options if you don't mind paying a small fee. I parked in a garage just a block away--only $1 for the first two hours, which isn't bad at all. The vibe was much nicer than I expected inside. Chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, framed pictures of meals adorning the walls, and an unexpected mix of elegant grandeur and retro Art Deco charm. There's a classic yet cozy atmosphere, making it feel like a place where you could have a refined meal but still feel totally at ease. I ordered the garlic string bean chicken and the pan-fried dumplings, and both totally hit the spot. The chicken was flavorful with just the right amount of garlic, and the green beans still had that fresh snap to them. The dumplings were crisp on the bottom, juicy on the inside. Great food, decent prices, and a surprisingly classy ambiance--Mama Lu's is definitely worth a visit, whether you're grabbing takeout or dining in. read more

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So the food was great! Once we ordered, it came out fast. However... it was SO HOT in there. It was 90 degrees outside and 83 inside but it felt hotter in there. It was so uncomfortable Also we waited 28 minutes sitting at our table before I went up front to ask someone if we could please get our orders taken. No one had even acknowledged us after sitting us down beforehand. It would be more understandable if someone came and said "sorry we will be with you in just a moment", but that wasn't the case. Lastly the parking was a bit difficult and stressful, but I feel like that is to be expected in that area of Pasadena so we were prepared for that. So yes, while the food was great, I don't think we will be coming back again. Unfortunately, as I have loved there other locations. read more

My girlfriend and I had an impromptu dinner after work and it was her turn to choose a restaurant. We are both on a diet and didnt really want to eat a lot ao we thought about dumplings. Upon searching yelp, we found this place and decided to try it out. Ive been to other Mama Lu's location but never ordered their dumplings. We got the beef wrap and spicy wonton. The beef wrap was huge and very flavorful but it was on the oily side for us. Ive had beef wrap in other places and I can say that this is one is the most oily one. The spicy wonton wasnt even spicy but still it was good. We were there for 2 hours and never felt that we were being rushed. The prices were reasonable. Service was great. We will be back for sure. read more