Excellent presentation of cocktails, total local Spot, bite sized food. we ordered Salmon, beats, beef slider, crab fritter, fried clam on tooth picks, mussels, bolognese pasta, and Johnny cake community, Chicken thighs and cocktails. Favorite was the crab fitter and chicken dish. The mussels are your typical mussel dish. Server was very helpful and knew the menu well. This is a great spot to meet friends after work as it's cozy and inviting. Bathrooms are on the lower level not sure if they have a elevator. read more

Disappointing, A Wednesday at 8 still an hour to go, was in the mood for drinks and tapas, but never felt welcome, ordered 3 tapas, came out in within minutes, like pre made microwave and cold, don't think we ordered wrong either. Take those James Beard plaques down please. read more

The best restaurant experience I've had in a long time. I made a reservation using the Resy app - super easy to do. Sat outside under a heated lamp and ordered the following: Nancy the Moonshiner (cocktail) Coffee Stout Potato Gnocchi w/ sage, feta and buttered squash Moxy Bread w/ grated tomato (similar to mashed) and terrene Griddled Corn Muffins w/ a maple cream cheese, sage, and aleppo dip Fried Brioche with cinnamon sugar and creme anglaise So good! Loved everything ordered. Service was excellent also read more

Moxy - October 2021 menu - American Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

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After eating at many different restaurants few restaurants truly surprise me anymore - but that is not the case at Moxy -- a truly wonderful and surprising meal and cocktails. Small plates are not usually my thing (probably because I am not a good sharer of food LOL) but these plates were so delicious you kept wanting to order more and more just to experience another perfect bite or combination which meant I didn't mind sharing so I didn't just fill up on one plate. :) After going to Moxy and Ore Nell's Barbecue which is part of this restaurant group (both amazing) I need to try all of their other restaurants! Depending on the size of your party - the server will be able to recommend how many items to order. The server was helpful, friendly and good humored. All the staff were attentive and engaging. You know its good service when just at the right moment someone notices you need another beverage or plates can be taken off of the table -- not too early / not too late. There is a bit of art and science to service and they seem to have it just right. For the food and cocktails - did I say amazing! Again -- I like to experience new and different combinations -- delight my palette and this menu does that. On this visit, the stand out cocktails for me were the Private Jet, the Bolo tie, and the Polka Dot Ascot. Next time I will try the professor Collins! I had to be able to stand up after my dinner, after all. Others in the group got the Sangria which they said was equally as good. The food -- don't be afraid to order from each of the categories on the menu. For fun snacks - the pimento cheese and saltines (don't be fooled these were not your store bought crackers) was a nice size starter to share. Under the While You're thinking the Fried Clams offered a unique and tasty bite that you shouldn't be afraid of related to "fried" - it is a bite not a whole plate of clams. The Crispy Rhode Island Calamari is a bigger portion to share and is closer to what you think of as a traditional appetizer - the coating on the calamari was perfect. The hungry for more - the Verde fisherman's stew to continue the journey of local seafood. Lastly -- to share or not to share -- We got all three, but my favorite were the New England Dinner 2.0 and the Johnny Cake Community. I would skip the Chicken thighs - after all you can have chicken anytime. LOL Did I forget dessert? Certainly not - get the whoopie pies with dipping sauce. The filling is perfect. You almost don't need the sauce. While this might not be a restaurant I would go to on a weekly basis given the format of the small plates and sharing items - this is a fun social place to have a great time with great food and cocktails. read more

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I had the opportunity to have dinner at Moxy last night. I have always enjoyed this restaurant, but there was something that prevented a five star rating from me. Last night was completely different. It may be that it was due to the restaurant having a limited capacity, about 50%, so the kitchen was not overwhelmed as they are normally 100% full. Whatever the reason, the attention to detail with every offering was evident. Or it may be that the staff was energized after the restaurant was closed during the winter. Each of our items was slightly better than I remembered having it in the past. As a warm-up, I had one of the most unique drinks I have ever experienced. There was some concoction of gin, pineapple, strawberries, fruity pebble's cereal, and milk that somehow came together in a sweet, but not too sweet concoction. I am spending a little bit more time on the drink than I usually do because of the uniqueness of this drink. It was very smooth and refreshing. Even though there was milk in the drink, it was clear, and in no way looked as though milk had been added. It was a truly unique drink that I highly recommend at least one person at the table trying. Now for the food, Moxy has always had some appetizer involving cornbread. And they are always spot on. This version included cream cheese and hot pepper jelly. All I can say is the standard continues to be high for this particular appetizer. The spring carbonara was incredibly light and flavorful. There was not too much cheese, as often times happens in this particular dish. The pasta was fresh and cooked perfectly. There was a significant amount of lardon and peas in the dish, which provided a perfectly balanced entrée. The Italian sausages were simply sublime. How can you go wrong with this particular item when you have good Italian sausage, onions and peppers, and a very spicy mustard on a toasted bun. I loved it ... nothing more can really be said. The Whoopie pies were as high-quality as everything else. The marshmallow in the pie was fresh and the Whoopie pie cake was soft yet firm enough to hold together. It was accompanied by a very nice French press coffee which perfectly complimented the dessert. As I stated, I have always enjoyed Moxy, but this meal was slightly better than it has been in my previous visits. Well done to the entire team. read more

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Food was amazing, staff all helped each other so there was always someone around to check in, cute building in a nice location in downtown Portsmouth. read more

We came tonight during restaurant week where a 5 course option was offered. After picking our courses, the first three courses arrived ~25 minutes apart, which is far too slow considering the small portions of each course. The timing became awkward, as we were left wondering where our next bites were. In addition, we were placed right in front of a speaker and could barely converse. We eventually requested our server to fire the last two courses because it had been nearly 1.5 hours (how long we were expecting the whole reservation to take for a party of 2) and we had only received 3/5 courses and needed to get to a show in town. We were told the kitchen was busy, but regardless, After we requested our food come faster, the food came out quickly. Overall, the food was good. Some dishes were hits (beef short rib, seabass, curried lamb bread bowl), but some lacked seasoning (chicken skewers), and most were very small. We left full enough, but could have definitely eaten a couple more courses. Drinks were very good--the highlight of the night! What was truly disappointing was our experience towards the end of our meal, the host/manager came over and told us we needed to leave the table because another table was to be sat in 5 minutes. We were honestly shocked by this request, as we had been waiting and waiting and waiting for our food to come for so long (and eventually had to request faster service). It was as if the front of the house and back of the house had not be in communication at all. This was very disappointing service and left a bad taste in our mouth. read more

Traveling to ME and stopped at Moxy for dinner. It's american style tapas, with lots of creative spins. We enjoyed all the dishes we got. Goat schnitzel Corn beef tacos were our favorites. Good price for the amount of food we got. Would recommend! read more

Moxy - tomato toasts and the portsmouth - American Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

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Amazing food, atmosphere and staff. The bartenders especially are top notch! Recommend to all looking for a new location a bit of the beat and path of downtown Portsmouth. read more

This a a tapas restaurant with really delicious fun shareable delights!! The food and cocktails were amazing and the service and pacing were perfect. Kudos to Peter our server who was attentive and helpful. The ambience was casual but cool! Definitely would go back in a heartbeat. read more

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This place is great. My wife and I went in and grabbed a few tapas and drinks before meeting up with friends. Service was spot on and couldn't be better. The small bistro feel was perfect for conversation read more

The food is amazing and the staff is fantastic. Favorite spot to go when visiting Portsmouth - a must.

Would definitely come back here! Drinks were good and the food is unique. The bartenders were friendly but very busy so be patient

Love Moxy. Always good food and creative cocktails. Very hard to get reservations assuming due to size. Can't wait to go back.

Moxy is okay-- the seating is cramped and the portions are small, but that's what I'd expect from a higher-end restaurant. I visited because of its appearance on classic Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, and I do not believe it lived up to the "Flavortown" standards. read more

Great tapas small plates great flavor and fair portion 4 of us had 12 selections. Had NE corned beef wrapped in cabbage. Omg Service was a bit slow but considering they were short on staff....they managed by providing friendly service I will go back read more

I like the concept and the service was fine but I didn't gel well with the food or drink. The Paloma- this was a fennel tequila drink with poblano peppers. It wasn't very sweet which was fine, but definitely very herby and I personally didn't get the spiciness from it. Fried pickles- very thick cut and superrr hot when they first come out. They don't have much flavor or salt so dipping in the sauce is a must. Personally it was too much pickle-to-breading ratio. Pork belly- I think the watermelon pickle pork belly combo didn't work. The pickle overpowered the watermelon, the pork belly chunk was too large to just take it all in one bite, and it was a bit overcooked and chewy. I expected a melt in your mouth experience but it was more charred and crispy. Calamari- this was done well and probably my favorite thing. A little on the greasy side but the batter was good and the flavors were good. Halibut crudo- was kind of strange because the fish seemed chewy. It also wasn't served very cold which made it a little sketchy to eat. Wasn't a huge fan. Moxy bread- two huge chunks of bread so hard to share between 4 (too lazy to cut). But the flavor was good. Roasted shishito peppers- apparently 1 in 10 are very very spicy so I didn't risk eating a pepper. The pork underneath wasn't crispy but kind of soaked and weird. Overall I get the concept and service was good but perhaps I was too chilly in the back corner, not a huge fan of high table tops to begin with, and the speakers were kind of loud. I wasn't too impressed by the menu. read more

Really great service and variety of menu. Simply stylish room and a very easy to understand menu that's not over the top. Really pleasant experience overall and good value for what is given. read more

2nd time visiting, we will be back again! Service is outstanding! Food is out of bounds. Delicious! Definitely a place for special occasions or just a nice night out! read more

Terrific food. Excellent staff. The hostess was kind and attentive, and out server Megan was informative, engaging, and perfectly timed 'checking on our needs and satisfaction' to ensure we didn't feel pestered. And she smiled whenever interacting with us! Almost a rare occurrence these days. The food runner was also pleasant and helpful. Definitely recommend. We will definitely go back. read more

We love it here. Had our anniversary dinner here tonight and couldn't have enjoyed ourselves more. Ambiance, food and service were all 10 star The host was friendly and communicative and our waitress Megan was sweet and helpful. Food was absolutely delicious and the small plates were perfect for sharing just the two of us. read more

This is now my second time here and I am just as a pleased as I was last time! If eclectic cocktails and tapas are your thing.....you must try Moxy!!! The cocktails are extraordinary but if you cant choose then go for the ultimate test kitchen experience! Let your bartender fix you something that suits your fancy. The appetizers aka while your thinking plates are all equally great! Everything is locally sourced which is something I strongly support!! I only wish I lived a bit closer so I could come in more then once every few years! Cheers! read more

Moxy - American Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Interesting concept. Service was ok. Felt a little fried and processed and the pork belly was dry. The mushroom frittatas and cornbread were amazing as was the Whoopie pie sliders! read more

Definitely my favorite restaurant during my Portsmouth visit - the food was excellent, and the service attentive. And hot damn, their cocktail list!! Probably my two favorite things on the menu were the marinated beets and the Partners in Crime cocktail, but the shishito peppers, hasty frites and short ribs were all excellent as well. They definitely know their stuff, here. Definitely worth the visit - and revisit! read more

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You know, I had the pleasure of living in New Hampshire for a year and spent any free weekend I had exploring my surroundings, sightseeing, and trying to find the best food around. Now that I'm back home, I've been catching up on reviews and contemplating which business to review last. Gotta end on a good note and all. So here it is! My last NH review ever for a restaurant that easily makes my top two list for the Granite State and maybe even the very top spot! Moxy is an American-style tapas restaurant in Portsmouth, New Hampshire serving up shareable-sized plates of modern food made from locally-sourced ingredients. Basically, they are exactly the type of restaurant I look for when exploring new areas! I'm unfamiliar with the area, the regional produce, and the culture so I love it when someone tells me a story with the meals they serve up, but in a manner that is up-to-date and exciting. I feel as though that's the promise Moxy makes. They certainly cook with some moxy. Moreover, they have a wall piece proudly listing the local farms they support, all of which are located miles from the restaurant. F O O D Based on my description, you could probably deduce that the menu changes frequently depending on what is in season. I love that as it ensures every ingredient is at its peak of flavor! Rather than ordering whatever sounded enticing, I entrusted my server with ordering "whatever it is I should order from the menu." Basically, if this were my only visit, what would I absolutely regret missing out on? Plus a beer. No dessert. Here is what I had. -Portsmouth Rarebit (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/moxy-portsmouth?select=cIF_WAvPqDOOTqJR5b-LWg): Anadama bread, beer cheese sauce, caramelized onions, pear, pickled beets. Holy smokes! New England has a great dairy & great bread culture and that was evident in this dish, a modern and refined take on the humble grilled cheese sandwich. It's the type of grilled cheese I wish I grew up eating. Cheesy. A bit sweet. A little tangy. Very much comforting. They used a Smuttynose IPA for the sauce. Completely forgot what cheese was used other than it was locally produced and very tasty! Not going to lie, I actually was on my smartphone during dinner googling anadama bread. Turns out, it a hearty style of yeast bread common in New England and made of wheat flour, cornmeal, and molasses. Great dish! -Beef Short Rib Marmalade(https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/moxy-portsmouth?select=qj6jLcvJRw4qZq7C_Hwfuw): Grilled local bread, pickled onion, shades of blue cheese. Meat + cheese + bread isn't exactly a groundbreaking formula but it was so well done and comforting that I had no complaints. I normally don't enjoy blue cheese but this wasn't off-putting for whatever reason and I cleaned my plate of everything. The short rib was so flavorful and the pickled red onion cut through the richness of everything. -Beer: I opted for just a beer instead of a cocktail as I still had to drive back to Manchester. I do not remember what I had except that it reflected much of the beers I've had in New Hampshire. Unheard of (at least to me) and forgettable. True, the craft beer scene has exploded in the Granite State over the past several years or so and some beers are pretty good, but I feel as though breweries in every surrounding state (Vermont, Maine, and Massachusetts) make much better beer than what you can come to expect from NH. I would've much rather enjoyed a beer from Maine Brewing Co. or Funky Bow or anywhere up the highway in Maine, but then Moxy would deviate from their celebration of NH products. It is what it is. I recommend trying one of Moxy's craft cocktails instead. S E R V I C E Service was prompt and everyone had that New England kindness. They checked up on me often enough, didn't lead me astray with the menu choices, and genuinely asked what I thought of their food. I've had farm-to-table elsewhere in NH but I feel that but none of those places (looking at you, Republic Cafe) served up food anywhere near as successful as Moxy. I doubt I'll be back, but I would love a return visit to this restaurant and I highly recommend them to anyone visiting the area! read more

As one of the many relatively new restaurants in Portsmouth that has revitalized its food scene in the past decade, Moxy is decent for the NH seacoast area. It is more than decent. It is refreshing. But it pales in creativity and execution compared to American tapas restaurants in the Boston area. The cuisine is American tapas, which is to say a wide range of spices can be utilized. The key is to utilize them in a way that's pleasing to the tastebuds. Where Moxy executed well on this front is with the crispy cauliflower and pork belly bites. The combination of flavors in the cauliflower worked very well together, including the mint which I didn't expect. I'm not sure if the zhoug sauce is homemade, but it is delightful. The pork belly was crispy on the outside and succulent on the inside - precisely how pork belly should be enjoyed. I was disappointed that the short rib marmalade ran out that night as I really wanted to give that a try. We moved onto spring carbonara next. I liked the texturize of the pasta, and the combination of ham and peas was very pleasant. We continued to the dinner entree portion of the menu and tried the chicken thighs in lettuce wraps. This is where the flavors got funky. Choosing chicken thighs is a smart move as dark meat is always more flavorful and my personal favorite when it comes to chicken meat. But what went with it can only be described as a wild combination of Asian flavors that created an explosion in the mouth which leaves you mostly confused. There were pickles gingers, fried onions, and cilantro - all are strong and powerful flavors. Put them together, you get fireworks of the wrong kind. Two sauces were provided - a mild chili one and a ranch-like one, just in case you needed more competing flavors. Finally, we tried the pain perdu from the desert menu. I want to point out that the music selection throughout the night did not disappoint. I give Moxy credit for being bold and giving Portsmouth something different. read more

I have been here a handful of times before and enjoyed it thoroughly. until tonight. the server was great. but the dishes were mediocre. especially the mini burgers. the beef tasted bad like it was rotten. would not go back after that. yikes. read more

If I were just reviewing the food, my rating would be 4 stars. The food was delicious. Standouts were the short rib and bleu cheese toasts, grilled carrots and the ricotta cake with cinnamon ice cream for dessert. However, it was truly the worst service I've ever received. Our waitress was absolutely miserable, rude and barely spoke to us beyond the occasional eye roll. We were seated and after 10 minutes told her we were ready to order. She ignored that, turned around and disappeared. We then waited another 20 minutes before we flagged down another waitress to order some food and wine. The rest of the evening she did little else besides rudely snatch our plates without even saying excuse me. Based on some other reviews below, this waitress seems to be passing her misery onto others regularly. Here's an idea Moxy, how about hiring waitstaff that don't suck the soul and fun out of not-inexpensive dining experience? Or just go with it and hire dementors to serve your small plates read more

Moxy - Short rib roasts. Delicious. Unfortunately they were served with a side of bitterness and contempt from our waitress - American Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

My girlfriend and I went to Moxy for dinner on a Friday night. The interior is well decorated with nice ambiance. Service deserves 5 stars. In terms of food however they have, in our opinion, some room for improvement. This doesn't mean the food is bad, but it didn't live up to the james beard nomination status that they advertise. This is what we ordered: .- Calamari: perfectly cooked; crispy outside, soft and tender inside. The batter they used was excellent. .- Cod: cod was fresh but under-seasoned. Fiddle heads were surprisingly good especially when eaten with the sauce. .- Potatoes: they could be better. They were too fried so they were on the dry side. At the same time, the more predominant flavor was the oil in which they were cooked. .- Brussels Sprouts: They were perfectly cooked, delivering a nice freshness inside and a crispy texture on the outside. I didn't appreciate that they came with cheese. It was not mentioned on the menu. We don't eat cheese so we had to remove it. .- Frites: Very successful plate. I would order this one again. .- Scallop escabeche: The escabeche itself was great. However, I don't think the scallop worked that well here... I think that mussels would have provided a better texture as well as accentuated the flavors. .- NH mushrooms: That's the other plate I would order again. I am not sure about how they were marinated but they were excellent. .- Moxy bread: Very good version of the typical Spanish "pa amb tomaquet". However, it came with blue cheese. It was not listed on the menu so as said, it was quite a surprise for us since we don't eat cheese. .- Clams: they were good but I was expecting more clams. They come on a stick with pepper and onion. Each stick only contained 1 clam. Overall, it was a nice experience and certainly they are above average if you take as a reference a "conventional restaurant". However, I expected a little bit more in terms of food from a place like that. read more

Amber is the reason to sit at this Bar. She is by far the Best and most Charming Bartender in Portsmouth. Give the wheel (and car keys if necessary) to Amber and just let her work her Magic. She'll make you 'just what 'the doctor ordered' for a creative-spot on- beverage (trust her- super smart!) and provide the best choices in this tapas style cuisine. Delicious! Yummy! Amber is The Best! read more

Comfortable welcoming atmosphere. Really interesting food. Small plates. Perfect for anyone who wants to have a couple bites of the whole menu! This was walking distance from our hotel. My sister and I split about 6 dishes. Everything was fantastic. If we find ourselves back in Portsmouth we will definitely be back. We had to double check the dress code (at my insistence - I didn't want to be under dressed). The owner was funny - and said as long as we weren't naked we were welcome. read more

Great food and great atmosphere. Would definitely recommend and go there again. The short ribs are amazing as is the pork belly!

Moxy has an eclectic and tasty menu, created by a chef who has been nominated for several James Beard awards. The menu is very "New England" with many root vegetable, pork, and beef options. The beef short rib marmalade was phenomenal. I gave the restaurant 4 stars because the host was absent for several minutes while we awkwardly waited for a table (we eventually seated ourselves) and our waitress was a little abrupt. The food is pricey, but tasty. I recommend this restaurant for adventurous eaters who aren't particular about having sociable and polite servers. read more

Moxy - Beets with Sunflower Seed Tahini - American Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

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Food good however quite small portions. Bartender unfriendly, aloof, and way too busy. Somewhat noisy, but pleasant interior. We left hungry. It was restaurant week and the menu was changed. Food flavor was good, just not enough. Usually Tapas is sharable. There is not enough on a plate to share. read more

The unexpected surprise! We wandered through town before we found the right spot after a long day of travel. Food was 4.9/5 stars. Great flavor, presentation and reasonable pricing. Our server Katie was so friendly and knowledgeable. Please try the Moxy bread and the Rudebega. I do not enjoy fish and I found the haddock fantastic. We tried 6 of the small plates. We will be back to try the rest. The short rib tapas was delicious. And get the Portsmouth if you like a Manhattan. We fell in love with Portsmouth NH in 2021. The love affair continues! read more

Their menu is aspirational, but unfortunately the cook doesn't live up to the dream. Every single dish I had was underseasoned. I tried two different sodas and both tasted weird and not sweet. The pork belly was not cooked long enough because it was still a bit tough. read more

Moxy - Left to right: fried cauliflower, roasted carrots, fried potatoes. - American Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

By far one of the best restaurants in Portsmouth, if not the best. Tapas style, so it a fun atmosphere and great for dates or with a group. My fiancé and I have pretty much tried everything on the menu at this point and everything has been unreal. Favs include the fried pickles, burger sliders, and the short rib. The food isn't the only reason we go there. We usually sit at the bar and the bartender, Kyle, is so awesome and treats you like royalty. Also, Im pretty sure he is a drink wizard. You can just tell him what flavors/alcohol you like and he will make you a magical drink that you've never had before. All the staff are super nice and you feel like you've known them forever. Moxy, you rock, please keep doin what you're doin! read more

Moxy - Beetylicious, a drink wizard original. - American Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

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I'm dismayed to be writing a 2 star review for moxy. We had high hopes after reading the other reviews. But we had a pretty awful culinary experience. We sat at the bar which was fine, though the bartender was a little too hip and blasé. We ordered the following: --Crispy potatoes which were small crispy wedges served with tomato compote and a mayonnaisy sauce (not good enough to be called an aioli). This was a B. --The signature tapas, the short ribs on toast with blue cheese and pickled onions. Hearty and quite good. A- --Felafel tots. Three flavorless felafel balls served with an aggressively awful citrusy sauce. F --Bok choy, served with pickled onions (apparently a fave condiment at Moxy). Not good or bad, a non-dish. B --Monk fish, lukewarm and rubbery with undercooked butternut squash and chanterelle mushrooms encrusted with way too much salt. C We sent back the felafel and were not charged for it, which was nice, but doesn't add a star for an really mediocre meal. read more

Moxy - What we sent back. The felafel tots should be deleted from Moxy's menu. - American Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

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Food and atmosphere were fine, but its not a place I'd seek to try again. We went for restaurant week so the menu was different - a $29 tasting menu with bigger portions than the typical tapas sharing plate menu (per our server). No point in reviewing each plate, except to say the offerings are 'fancier' than I'm used to. I felt like I was on "Chopped" with the garnishes laid by tweezers, which was in stark contrast to servers wearing old jeans and flannel shirts. We enjoyed most everything, especially the bone marrow tartar. We didn't care for the poached sole course at all. Desert was huge - 3x more cake than I would have expected (3 pieces, and a small scoop of ice cream) Server was fine, drinks were fine, bathroom was 2 floors down steep and uneven steps. read more

I really wanted to give this small plate specialist 4 stars but it just didn't measure up to other tapas places we've been to. The menu is beautifully varied so there is something for everyone. Service was mixed. Recommendations were pretty good but she didn't guide us well in terms of how to order for a group of 7 people. Wine list was very mediocre. The rose I had was fine. The beer flight my husband had was creative but lacked execution in terms of quality of brews in the sampler. Some of the tapas were spectacular and others were novice in both presentation and flavor profile. I think this place is definitely onto something in the way they offer their small plate options but a little more consistency would go a long way. read more

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