This is a hip spot in a great neighborhood! The menu is a little overwhelming because they have so many tapas and you order from a sheet, similar to ordering sushi, only you can order either a small or large size of anything, which is great if you want to try a bunch of tapas. The food we had was all tasty. Our favorites were the duck Empanadas, roasted tomatoes and Carne Asada. I loved the vibe at Mas. It was perfect for a date night, but would have also been fun for a group. I've seen other reviews complaining about the crowds, but we went on a Friday night (party of 2) right after Thanksgiving, and were seated right away and got great service. read more

I've been waiting to go to Mas Tapas ever since I heard my girlfriend and some friends that went to school in Charlottesville raving about it. I have even seen someone drop a few lines about Mas in a review for MY favorite tapas place, Estadio in DC. I finally got my chance to experience Mas when I went to UVa for a football weekend. We went on a Friday night around 9pm so we could eat some tapas and drink some sangria before hitting downtown. We ended up waiting around 35 minutes so they could accommodate our table of 10 on what appeared to be a busy night. The wait wasn't too bad! The giant jug of Sangria (highly recommended - it's very good) kept us busy until we were ready to be seated. We were seated outside with a few tables pushed together and everyone was comfortable. The server came around and gave us our menu's and took some drink orders. The menu is VERY extensive so you'll need to take a few minutes looking up and down it. Be careful though because there are so many things that sound amazing. All of the food we ordered came out in a very reasonable amount of time too! 4/5 - Bacon wrapped dates - I'm not usually a fan of any type of date or bacon wrapped thing. Dates taste weird and usually when things are wrapped in bacon the bacon is still mushy or rubbery. These were a completely different story. The bacon was actually crispy around the date and the entire bite was delicious. Would definitely order these again. 5/5 - Manchego and apples - Obviously not the fanciest thing you can order but the quality of the cheese and apples was fantastic. Both had a ton of flavor and complimented each other very well. 3.5/5 - Jumbo shrimp with garlic aioli - I'm not the biggest fan of in-shell shrimp as I'm more of a butter and garlic drowned shrimp fan but this was still pretty good. Everyone around the table absolutely loved it. 4.5/5 - Carne asada - I will eat steak pretty much any way I can get it. They cook the carne asada rare only but I'm fine with it. It's topped with a smoked tomato aioli that pairs nicely with the rare beef. 5/5 - Octopus and Pork Noodle dish - I'm not sure what this dish was called but it was my favorite of the night by FAR. The pork was tender and the octopus was charred exactly how I like it. Not to mention it was spicy as hell so it was right up my alley. Loved it. All in all I really enjoyed my meal here and it lived up to expectations. This isn't the fanciest style of tapas you will see out there but the food has just as much flavor as any other place. If you enjoy small plates and are in the area (except on Sundays - closed), this is a good bet for you. read more

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First things first: I don't like tapas. Call me crazy but small portions (or the shudder-inducing "nibbles" or "small plates"), jacked-up prices, and a whole dinner built around communal sharing with an overriding aftertaste of hunger are not my idea of a good time. I'm quite surprised that the whole restaurant scene built around tapas has lasted as long as it has, because my philosophy is, I've found this awesome dish. I've ordered it. And now that I know how good it is, the sight of your fork coming closer and closer to the food in front of me is enough to bring a rush of red to my head. Anyway, I'm giving Mas a pass on my general resentment of Tapas, because I had heard for quite some time about how good the food was and I can fully back that up. Mas also features tons of locally sourced ingredients, from AMFog mushrooms to beef from Free Union Grass Farm and Silky Cow, which is nice in that you can taste how fresh everything is but bad in that if you don't get here early enough, the kitchen runs out of the more popular dishes, like the bacon-wrapped dates. The menu also has quite the complicated symbol and key system, with things like FUN, WILD-CAUGHT, and BALANCED PAIRING. My table first ordered a small pitcher of sangria to share, and it was the perfect acidic balance of fruit and wine. I will say that I could have easily gone without my one glass of sangria if it meant that the $20 could have gone towards two extra dishes, but the birthday girl requested some booze. But you want to hear about the food! These were the dishes that came recommended by both Yelpers, friends, and waitress. Datil con Tocino: aforementioned bacon-wrapped dates. Comes 4 in one bowl. It's kind of impossible how something so simple can taste so delicious, but this was one of the dishes that I wish we could order extra of. Ensalada de espinaca: baby spinach with pine nuts, raisins, and mango vinaigrette. Palette-cleanser and provided some greens. Papas con crema: like a potato lasagna stuffed with Manchego cheese. Wait a bit for the cheese to crystallize on the bottom and you get nice crispy dark brown bits. Roasted artichoke hearts and goat cheese: wished for more hearth-baked bread. Chorizo: pork + garlic + pimenton sausage. I'd be okay with eating this, cheese, bread, and wine for the rest of my life. My stomach probably wouldn't. Empanada: pastry turnover stuffed with pumpkin, ginger, sage, with some cheese-like creme on the side. More savory than sweet. Fat Gulf shrimp grilled in their shells: my eyes popped out of my head as soon as I spotted a waiter carrying these babies to a nearby table. So succulent. It was like everything else in the world had disappeared and all that remained was the shrimp and I. Albondigas: beef and pork meatballs. Wanted more shrimp. We also ordered the hugely disappointing goat cheese cheesecake: the goat cheese managed to overpower any hints of sweetness or sugar. The little dollops of raspberry syrup on the side did not help. Tip: come as early as possible. My group of 7 came here at around 5:30 on a Friday and snagged the last big table in the back. Fifteen minutes in, a line had already started forming for tables, though there were still a few empty seats in front of the bar. Would like to come back soon to have a Racion of that shrimp all for myself. read more

This used to be my "spot" while at UVA undergrad (til 2005). They're open late - the place is always jumping (*note: they don't accept reservations and at peak hours expect to wait up to an hour), and the food was amazing. It seems as though the quality has declined over the last few years. *The patatas bravas are still good, the tortilla española has been too oily, cheese plates have been significantly downsized (but still tasty), and the seafood from time to time is over-sauced. If you aren't a tapas fanatic, you may still enjoy the restaurant because, even with the few 'not so perfect', most of the dishes are prepared and served wonderfully. The prices are pretty steep, but it's Charlottesville - what else could you expect? If you want cheap tapas, go to DC. If you want great tapas, go to Spain. In the mean time, shoot on over to Main St. and try Si Tapas...then make your comparison ;) read more

Truly fantastic food with great value. Arrived early to get a table for valentines day for my boyfriend just visiting town. The host and and the bartender were very accommodating with great tips on the food and wine selection. The carne asada truly stole the show as a Racion ( Had the tapa in a prior visit and the Racion was definitely the better bet for the value) Sangria was delicious and stronger than expected which was a good way to start the night. Definitely recommend arriving 10 minutes early before opening to immediately get a table as waits can be up to 2 hours depending on the night (so the earlier the better) Overall, a fantastic food and service experience making me so happy we ate here because it is truly some of the best Charlottesville has to offer in regards to food quality and value. read more

Good for a drink and a conversation. No mas. Wait time was over an hour on a Tuesday night, while being only third on the wait list (for 2). The food was edible, but no dish was outstanding. Many diners staked out their tables for what seemed all night in a pleasant social atmosphere. The no-reservations system evidently has its loop holes, as people continually passed us throughout the night for a large party. Their spanish wine list looked worth exploring more. Sangria was good. Bacon-wrapped dates - unimpressed. scallops - just ok. empanada and salad - fine. read more

Tasty plates but definitely a little overpriced. If you're looking for an authentic tapas place, this does not quite hit the mark - I would say that it adopts the tapas style with its small plate offerings, but does not quite live up to other tapas restaurants and does not offer the variety of authentic Spanish dishes that you would expect. The dishes are flavorful, however, and come in a small/"tapas" option or a larger/"raciones" option (usually double the price of the tapas). My husband and I ordered 6 dishes in the tapas size, and we felt that the portions were appropriate to share between 2 people. We left satisfied but not overly stuffed. Service is friendly and attentive, and it was overall a good experience if you go in with the mentality of sharing small plates and not authentic tapas. read more

We were excited to come to Mas for a great family dinner based on recommendations from friends and Yelp. Overall the tapas were pretty good with one big exception. We ordered two orders of Carne Asada for our table and were a little surprised at how rare it was served. Believe me, I like my steak rare for the most part, but this was really, really rare. Actually, it looked dangerously rare in my opinion. When our waitress came by we asked if we could please get the meat cooked a little more as we were concerned about how raw it looked. Much to our surprise we were told the chef will not cook it anymore because it is suppose to be served very rare. Hunh? Is the chef eating with us?!? Is the chef paying for it?!? I've never heard this before. Anyway, the servers were pleasant but the chef sounds like a real ass. His food certainly isn't nearly as good as he thinks it is! Good riddance and good luck! read more

Mas Tapas - This was simply too rare for my test. Chef refused to cook it any more. Insane. - Tapas Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Went for dinner on a crowded Saturday night in Belmont. We got a table right by the door and fast service from the waitstaff. We ordered a half dozen tapas from the vegetarian options available. Food came out pretty quickly and everything was very flavorful. The seasoning profile is pretty similar across all the items we ordered - olive oil, paprika, harrisa, etc. They are going for authentic Spanish tapas, which we appreciated. The patatas bravas were not like I am used to - small crispy potatoes - but rather big soft hunks in sauce. Bill was less than $100, but we did not order alcohol or meat. The atmosphere inside is lively and decor is a little...intense; we're pretty sure the servers have their portraits hung up in the place as artwork. We'll be back to give it a second go. read more

We came here on a recommendation after a long drive from NYC because they served food until 2am-what a nice surprise! I love tapas and these were pretty authentic, filling and tasty. The vibe was chill and the sangria was good and strong. Fond memories-will come back if ever in cville. read more

Food was absolutely amazing! So much fun something for everyone and opportunity to try a bit of everything! The service was spot on and the drinks were perfect! Can't wait to go back! read more

Wow! What a find during my visit in one of the happiest cities in America. I'm sure "Mas Tapas" is a reason for this rating. It's totally worth the the walk from the downtown mall, it's easy to find and just about 10 minutes on foot - make the trip! After an initially slow service, we got our table after about 20 minutes wait, and yes - it was still totally worth it! Go for the wine selection, which is fairly large and interesting with European wines (I tried the red sangria excitedly, but didn't particularly like it). We then ordered 7 different tapas which made us more than full. The melted cheese on brioche with honey was one of my favorites, but absolutely everything was great, including the homemade bread and yummy olives. Come here for a romantic night or a group outing - seats are great, the atmosphere cozy and European, and nobody will rush you out. Definitely worth a try!!! read more

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Without a doubt this is one of the best restaurants in Charlottesville! On the pricier end, for sure, but definitely worth it. The food: The sangria is excellent! Be sure to get a large pitcher ($30 and will be enough for about 8 glasses). Our favorite dishes were the Papas Bravas (potatoes with aioli), Queso cocido con alcachofa (artichoke and goat cheese spread), Trinxat (potatoes, cabbage, pork belly, duck fat), and Carne asada (WOW, this was great). The menu is extensive and is broken down into different price points. Our server was great about explaining the menu items and portion sizes to us so we could set expectations and determine how much to order. The logistics: They don't take reservations so I would suggest an early dinner or other odd times if you don't like to wait. I came with a group right when they opened at 5:30 and the restaurant was already filling up fairly quickly. This setting also isn't great for groups - they don't seat until the entire party is present and they don't split checks. The plates are fairly difficult to share with groups larger than 4 unless you're okay getting only a bite (or sometimes even half a bite) of certain dishes. However, for a date, this restaurant is perfect! Overall, our service was great and the food was excellent. We can't wait to come back! read more

We ended our day trip visit to wineries at Mas Tapas. We had to wait about 30 minutes to be seated as they don't take reservations. I was underwhelmed with the lack of seasoning and slow service. We had to hunt our server down a couple of times to request things. We ordered the papas bravas, artichoke dip, scallops, shrimp and dates wrapped in bacon. My favorites were the Artichoke dip was tasty and the goat cheese adds a nice twist to this dip and scallops which were cooked perfectly. Overall, I think it's a decent place. read more

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Perhaps my expectations were just set too high? The bacon wrapped dates were good; however, I've had them before elsewhere and can tell you that the addition of some blue cheese inside and a sprinkle of brown sugar would take these from good, to stellar. The arroz con pollo, was a plate full of arroz and not much pollo, the piece of fat and another piece of gristle is what ultimately forced me to send this back. Adding a star for the server who handled this well and took the item off our check. We followed with the tortilla which were lackluster, warm, and a bit dry scalloped potatoes. Even the Manchego cheese appetizer was off. I often buy Manchego at Costco and find the texture smoother and more flavorful. One more tapas ordered were the lamb sliders, (1 slider actually), with goat cheese. For those who like the stronger flavor of lamb if would be great to order, this was just too much for me. $73 for 4 tapas (the chicken and mostly rice was deducted beforehand), a sangria and glass of wine. The value just wasn't there. Sorry folks. read more

We were first in line at 5:20pm, and by 5:45 there was a LONG line out the door. Tapas is one of my favorite types of food and seeing the hype, I was quite excited to try out Mas. Here are the items we shared: - goat cheese artichoke dip: fine, not amazing; strong on chevre - jamon: incredible quality but VERY small, sad pieces and very pricey (around $15) for what we got. - bacon wrapped dates: hard to mess this one up. good but I've had much bigger bacon wrapped dates elsewhere - lamb meatballs: good flavor but fell apart easily - shrimp: very plump and grilled well, served with incredibly thick aioli - carne asada: cooked well but I was disappointed by how the dish came out cold. who wants their meat served not hot? I did not order a drink, but my friends' sangria and cocktail were reportedly watered down and not very good. Overall, food was only okay and very pricey. We left feeling very confused by the line still out the door now being told for a wait of 2-2.5 hrs. definitely not worth the value or wait imo, I'd much rather dine at little john's or mellow mushroom pizza when in Charlottesville... read more

This tapas place is definitely worth every star. Friendly waitress, intimate/classy yet fun setting (including a huge patio), fantastic food, killer sangrias, awesome company ... what else could you really want in a night? (Although I can't guarantee you the great company when you visit. Thankfully I came with great friends). The restaurant uses ingredients from about a dozen or more local companies, which is an added bonus. Lots of organic and fresh vegetables and free-range chicken. Just looking at the menu and the vast array of choices can be overwhelming, but I feel like a lot of thought has put into not only the types of ingredients used but the way they're cooked/paired together to prepare each dish. We ordered plenty of food for the three of us to share and feast on, but the one I keep remembering is the bacon-wrapped dates. I didn't even know I liked dates! Fat, juicy and pitted, roasted inside of applewood-smoked bacon. Another great dish: the smoked tomatoes that were resting in their own tomatoey juices. Also had dessert: the dark, bittersweet flourless chocolate cake with berry coulis. It tastes exactly as it sounds! read more

Horrible experience all around. We ordered 9 tapas and only ever got 6 of them. After 35 minutes of sitting without food after eating the initial batch we told our server we were still waiting on 1/3 of our meal, and she never came back. 15 minutes later we were brought our bill by someone else and were told that the orders were never put in by the server and that they probably "ran out at some point in the night". They then brought they last tapa, a set of bacon wrapped dates so charred they were nearly unrecognizable. We were offered a paltry insincere apology with the caveat that "this is what happens when it gets late around here". Our bill came and nothing was comped and there was no attempt to rectify our experience. What appeared to be a thoughtfully crafted menu and hip vibe was unfortunately trumped by subpar execution and apathetic and inattentive service. read more

Mas Tapas - Burnt and greasy bacon wrapped dates - Tapas Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Came here for a double date. This place opens at 5:30pm, doesn't take reservations, and fills up FAST. Street parking is also a bit of a pain. We arrived at 5:45pm and there were no more tables. We were able to get some cocktails at the very mini lounge/waiting area and then preceded to wait for another hour for a table to open up. The food and sangria here were all delicious! My cocktails were ok - in the future I'd probably stick to the sangria! Wish the share plates were just a liiiittle bit bigger but I'd rather have quality over quantity. Nicer ambiance and great staff. read more

Despite both Yelp and Google indicating that this restaurant accepts takeout orders, I was told over the phone that they don't.

Mas has been around for a long time, and they were bringing top-level Spanish food to Charlottesville before anyone else did. Carne asada, gambas, and datil con tocino are must-haves whenever you get there. read more

Oh man! This is place a true gem! Friendly staff, amazing food! I recommend their shrimp tapas, they are huge and delicious!! Their octopus is also amazing! My favorite actually. read more

One of the only tapas places in Charlottesville. I didn't read the other reviews but I will say that this place was on the pricey side, probably more suited for a fancier occasion. We got about 4 tapas (pictures of the lamb below) and everything was tasty. I am not sure if it's worth the price though. The flavor wasn't that amazing that I crave it (I haven't been back). It gets pretty busy as well so try to call ahead! read more

Mas Tapas - Tapas Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Yummy place and great for a group! I came here with five other friends. We came right when it opened and was able to get a table outside. We ordered a bunch of tapas and the waitress was great about giving us great recommendations. I didn't order any cocktails, but my friends seemed to like them. I think my favorite was the bacon wrapped dates and the grilled octopus. read more

Great food and knowledgeable, enthusiastic servers make this a go-to in Charlottesville!! You will not be disappointed, especially if you like well-prepared, interesting dishes. However this place is extremely popular-we met with our group of 7 right as they opened, and got seated with no problem. Bring a group if you can- to better try multiple dishes! The roasted tomatoes were a big hit, as well as the carne asada. We ended our dinner with bacon-wrapped dates, a perfect dessert! read more

Went here for a birthday dinner and it was really good. There is a good amount of outdoor seating and the inside is very cool. The service was excellent as well as the food. That being said, it did sometimes feel like we paid a lot for a dish that was very small (granted it is tapas). read more

What great flavors and great price point. We really enjoyed the dinner and the friendly atmosphere. The roasted tomatoes were ridiculously good. read more

Mas Tapas - Tapas Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Mas is a favorite date night spot for us, there is always some hustle & bustle, service is great, and we have our go-to favorites. We have even taken the kids for a special night out and they (the kids) suprised us with their adventurous tastes. Mas has been great with take-out during shelter-in-place/semi-shutdown - family style meals are available at reasonable prices. As far as our personal recommendations - we've never gone wrong with arugula salad, carne asada, grilled tuna (always perfectly rare), gambas (shrimp), bouqerones(anchovies), papas bravas (perfectly roasted potatoes), and the pla' piqueno (amazing manchego thinly sliced, served with housebaked bread and apples - yum!) all of which have been available for take-out at this time. We also love the octopus though its not on the menu right now :-)!! During the shelter-in-place we discovered a new favorite with their roast chicken family meal!! And the margaritas are as good as ever - the traditional is good, but blood orange and raspberry are fantastic :-). read more

Mas has been delivering consistently delicious food for the past 10 years that I have been going. Their menu changes seasonally which means they always have something new and different to try. There are a few many staples, like the complimentary olives to start the meal and the bacon wrapped dates (we order them as dessert). I enjoy ordering a number of things (T/tapas size) so I can try more things. Most recently their scallop with corned cream was my favorite dish. I also love their selection of Spanish wines- especially how many they have by the glass! Any time we come, we try to get there 10 minutes before they open and when we do, we've always gotten a table right away. If you get there at any other time, there may be a wait, but you can always grab a drink and watch what other people order. read more

Mas Tapas - Tapas Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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I feel like Mas doesn't get the credit it deserves. The food is truly amazing. I've never had a meal I didn't love. But the bear part is going with friends and sharing food, drinks and a great time. If you've gone previously and didn't get what all the fuss is about I encourage you to try again. Try some different things. Ask for recommendations. It's amazing. read more

Without a doubt Mas is one of the best restaurants in Charlottesville. This place is always consistent and has been for the 15 years I've been dinning there. Mas has a great staff that are very attentive even if the place is jam packed. I usually dine at the bar while enjoying one of their carefully selected beers on tap. Did I mention their bread ? Holy cow ! Mas will remain a Charlottesville staple and is one of the best dining experiences in all of Charlottesville. Keep up the good work. read more

Mas Tapas - Delicious! - Tapas Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Fun, delicious, new food, and variety are all words I would use to describe Mas Tapas. I really enjoyed the queso dip, roasted tomatoes, fried potatoes and the homemade bread. The wait was very very long so don't be in a hurry. I think it took about 90 minutes for all our food to come out! But our server was kind and helpful even though she was super busy. And the food was worth the wait. It was exciting and different than what I'm used to. My fiancé and I really enjoyed people watching too. The place was electric with activity and packed full. It's definitely worth going back again. read more

Crawford's law of eating: my pleasure goes up the higher the ratio of cast iron is on the table. No diminishing returns to scale. Mas capitalized on this. So much fun. Great bar scene. Daddy is happy. read more

Found this place through Yelp and I'm very impressed. The food was amazing and the drinks were great as well! The restaurant itself is adorable and has a nice layout but the food is definitely what is going to make us go back! We haven't stopped talking about how great it was since last night read more

My boyfriend and I eat here at least 3 times a month and I must say, we have never had a bad experience. The food has always been absolutely amazing...full of flavor, exotic, and fresh! The wine list is phenomenal as well. We agreed that if Mas was one of the last places on Earth to eat, then we would be content. Plus, the staff is also entertaining, full of knowledge about the food/wine, and friendly. Thanks for all that you do Mas! Love having you all in the Cville community. read more

Cute space, but the food was average at best. We enjoyed the pousoles, but everything else we ordered (cauliflower, lamb sliders, fish dip) lacked much flavor or originality. Also enjoyed the chocolate mousse dessert. However the price seemed quite high for the amount of food for the meal. read more

We've gotten takeout here several times and the food is consistently delicious. We can't wait to get back to sitting on the patio with some sangria! read more

Mas Tapas is a great place to go for a date or a cool place to take friends. It can get really, super busy and it is first come, first serve but it is worth it. We come early pretty often and get seated right away, and the staff has also recommended coming in for late night too, if you don't want to wait. The drinks are deliciously prepared from skilled bartenders and the food is always fresh and yummy. I especially like that the menu is so seasonal; it's always changing. Our staples though, are the carne asada and the octopus and potatoes. The carne asada is served with a smoky tomato aioli and duck fat flatbread that will blow your mind, and the octopus is so tender and flavorful with the potatoes. Don't miss this place. read more

My family and I visited Mas on Friday and thoroughly enjoyed the food and overall experience. The tapas were incredible; we especially enjoyed the lamb hamburger and the mushroom tart. We were very lucky in that we were seated almost immediately upon arrival. The service was very solid and we felt like we constantly had something in front of us to eat. Our papas bravas didn't have sauce on them (which we didn't realize they needed), so that was a disappointment because the potatoes were very dry. Overall though, great restaurant, service, and food! I'll definitely be back! read more

My friends and I were very excited about our trip to this restaurant. The entire time on our walk there, we discussed how happy we were to try this place. One of my friends, it was her birthday, had chosen this restaurant because she had always heard good things. I did not know much about it, but being from the Charlottesville area, I was familiar with the location. So, I knew the area wasn't going to be all that racially diverse thanks to all of the gentrification around the Belmont area. When we arrived, we were immediately greeted by a host who urged us to choose a seat inside, so there would be less of a wait. We complied and were squeezed at a table in the rear of the restaurant. A waitress soon approached us and offered up a few friendly suggestions on what we should order. We let her know that two of my friends were vegetarians and that I was allergic to selfish, so we would have to steer clear of those options. She then proceeded to lecture me on carrying my epipen everywhere I go. This has never happened to me at a restaurant. i have also never been spoken to in such a condescending way by someone before. I have gone to many restaurants and told wait staff about my allergy and they are usually very understanding. This waitress was not. She made it seem like I had inconvenienced the entire restaurant. She very unenthusiastically said "I'll have to run everything by the kitchen now." The rest of the meal was uncomfortable. I cannot remember if I even liked the taste of the food. All I can remember is a white woman yelling at me because of my food allergies. My advice to anyone who is interested in tapas in the Charlottesville area. Try Bang! It's within walking distance of this tone-deaf place and is actually quite delicious. There aren't weird photos of white people doing yoga on the walls and I was treated with respect and courtesy while I was. Moral of the story: Skip this place. It's expensive. They're rude. And you can definitely get a better meal somewhere else. Service - 0/5 Food - 2/5 Value - 0/5 read more