Our first visit to R & D Kitchen lived up to the awesome reviews I read before going. We sat at the chef's bar. It was like watching Food Network live while eating. I really enjoyed the sushi chef. The atmosphere was upscale, friendly, and staff very accommodating. We started with deviled eggs. They live up to their reputation. They were a bit heavy on the Dijon mustard flavor, but that's just my personal favorite. My husband and son thought they were perfect. I had the veggie burger. It ranks at the top of my "Best Veggie Burger" list. The ingredients they use gave it a little hint of sweetness, but the Worcestershire sauce balanced it out nicely. Of course, who doesn't like homemade bread? Add a shared side salad and I was set to go. My husband had the Reubenesque. It was piled high with delicious cole slaw and lots of meat. The side of fries was a perfect match for a great meal. My son had a rainbow roll. He said it was great. I didn't even know he liked sushi! We certainly enjoyed watching the chef make sushi in front of us while we ate. The wait time at lunch on Friday after Thanksgiving was nonexistent. We were greeted at the door, seated immediately, and served our food within 10 minutes by the knowledgeable, very competent server. They were accommodating in letting us sit in a section for the server we requested. Two cons to the visit.... As other reviewers have said, the water could be served in larger glasses, but they kept them full, so it wasn't a problem. In my opinion, the salad was a tad over dressed. Slightly less dressing would have made it a little better. Overall, our experience was a pleasant surprise to find this jewel of a restaurant. I highly recommend it! read more

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I am in love with this place! I came here for lunch to catch up with a few girlfriends. The atmosphere was just perfect with the open kitchen, nice natural lighting, and wasn't too noisy. Now down to business, the carnitas sandwich was AMAZING. The pork was perfectly tender, but really the combination of flavors with the slaw and avocado were just perfect. The slaw complements the savory carnitas because of its slightly pickled flavor then the avocados add a nice rich, creamy touch to it. And that house made bun is just all sorts of good. HIGHLY recommend getting this sandwich. Us 3 girls also shared the Thai tuna sushi. It was definitely different than a normal sushi roll as it had macadamia nuts thrown into it. It made for good and interesting flavors, but personally I probably wouldn't want nuts in my sushi again. My friend also got the deviled eggs so I tried one and loved it. Good mix of flavors and I loved how there was some texture when you bit into it since they added chopped up celery or something. I'm a big fan of green onions too so it was delicious to me, but my friend isn't as big of a fan so she didn't love it as much. read more

R+D Kitchen - Thai tuna sushi - New American Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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R+D for research and discovery! Genius! Finally got to try this place a while ago... And my were we impressed!! First of all, excellent service. Nowadays it seems like it's too much to expect good food AND good service but that's not the case here. Our server was polite (which is also sometimes hard to get when you're a couple of 20 year olds) and so friendly. And the food, amazing! Got the deviled eggs and Greek roasted chicken with tabbouleh. Oh the deviled eggs were perfect! Lots of celery which gave it such a good flavor and crunch. The chicken was seasoned and roasted just the right amount. Nice and juicy, not dry at all. And the tabbouleh complimented the chicken perfectly. My boyfriend is Persian and loves Mediterranean dishes so this hit pretty close to home for him. It came with a yummy lemony sauce. Also, the portions were sizable. We usually share a dish since neither of us can ever finish the enormous portions American restaurants serve. Also the water cups were so tiny we had to keep asking for more haha maybe an 8oz? But they were chilled so that was cool, not sure if this is always the case. Can't even begin to talk about the warm, modern ambience- it's beautiful! The wood is warm with an orange tint to it, and the ceiling is low, which I personally love. Can't wait to sit outside under their orange umbrellas in the fall. Cool music too, heard emancipator which is awesome :DDD They have new menu items all the time and encourage people to try it, hence the "research and discovery" part! Can't wait to try something new next time and give them some input. Impressed with the originality of this place- will definitely be back!!! read more

R+D Kitchen - Rainbow Roll! - New American Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Made reservations for lunch, still took another 10-15 minutes to be seated after we arrived. The ambience matches the lifestyle of the surrounding area. While offering a limited menu, my selection of salmon was very tasty. Our server was attentive and ensured our water glasses were full (the volume of the water glass matched like a small orange juice glass, the poor girl kept coming back every 5 minutes to refill). read more

R+D Kitchen - Roasted Salmon - New American Near Me - Dallas, Texas

I went to R+D Kitchen for the first time on a Wednesday around 1:00 for lunch. Hillstone is one of my favorite restaurants, so I was stoked about trying one of their concepts. When we arrived they told us it would be a 20 minute wait and let us know that the bar seating was available. We decided to wait, and they called us to a table after just 5 minutes. (I think the 20 minutes claim is a way to fill up the bar.) The server approached our table with, "Hi, what would you liked to drink?". She promptly returned with water and asked, "Are you ready to order?". The server was attentive, but not friendly. This is the only part of my dining experience that was lacking. We started with the deviled eggs... which were awesome and a total bargain for $4! Then my brother and I split the carnitas sandwich alongside the seared tuna roll. The sandwich was a little messy, but damn near perfect. Every ingredient contributed, and it was may more exciting than your standard pulled pork sandwich. The tuna roll was delightful. Don't fret that R+D isn't a sushi bar, the fish was still very fresh and tasty. I was also glad that they don't serve traditional soy sauce, it seems to be a ginger soy or something of that type -- it's excellent. Be sure to ask about the rolls on the menu though, because there is not a description next to them - and I think some of them are much more exciting than they sound. All in all, food and ambiance were fantastic! Service is what bumped my experience one star down, but hopefully it will be different next time :) read more

R+D Kitchen - Carnitas + seared tuna roll. - New American Near Me - Dallas, Texas

This place is good! We love their sushi! Service is always great. They know how to make proper cocktails. This place gets busy! So try and do reservation if you can. There is almost always a wait. The patio is nice, just wish it was bigger. Plenty of parking. read more

I have heard so many good things about this place and it did not disappoint. I rarely give a place 5 stars but this place was wonderful! Make sure you make a reservation though because you might be waiting for awhile. The service here is amazing, they are very attentive and think of everything before you even ask for it. I feel like a main part in a wonderful dining experience is great service. To start with we got the dip duo to all share and then I got the Mediterranean seared ahi tuna salad. My friends also got the Reuben sandwich, rainbow roll, and the Asian sesame salad. I would recommend the Reuben sandwich - it was the best by far! My only complaints is that the place was very loud and their soy sauce is very weird, it has a sour taste which did not pair well with the sushi roll. Overall though I was happy with the dinner choice. read more

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Stopped by this place on a visit to Dallas. It's nicely decorated and laid out. I immediately noticed that the staff was very hospitable once we walked in. Was greeted by everyone. We sat outside as the weather permitted. The patio was really nice -a good mix of private while also allowing for parking lot watching. I ordered a glass of Pinot Grigio to start. They actually brought out the wrong wine, which I didn't know until they brought out another glass to let me know they brought out the wrong wine lol. I wasn't mad at it because they let me have both glasses lol #winning I ordered the trout special which was so delicious btw. It was a huge piece of Rainbow trout, seasoned perfectly and just slid off the skin. The spinach was really delicious with the Parmesan. I didn't really care for the mashed potatoes that came with it. They were a little bland as far as taste goes. I also noticed they didn't have very many starters. They offered sushi rolls and sides, but no actual starters. However, the food came out really fast. Like maybe 10 minutes at the most? I wasn't mad about that. All in all, I'd definitely come back whenever I'm in town again and try something else. SN: I was really impressed to find a changing station in the men's restroom. I don't see them often, so I was like wow. read more

R+D Kitchen - Trout Special with Brussels Sprouts. Mmmm - New American Near Me - Dallas, Texas

I ate lunch today and was VERY disappointed. I have a Hotel/Restaurant Management degree, 20 years in the industry, Mansion on Turtle Creek, Rosewood Crescent Court, and Disney World as former employers. I am very familiar with good customer service and making people feel comfortable and valued. Today was 100 % the opposite. I asked for a simple Mediterranean Tuna Salad and they informed me they didn't have Tuna because of Covid... We ordered Tuna Sushi roll for appetizers so I know they had some form of tuna. Nonetheless, the server(s) were rude when I tried to ask for the salad with another protein. They informed me that "corporate" would not allow them to serve this and there was no way I could get it at all. I noticed a lady at the table next to me complaining to a manager about this very same issue. Bottom line is they disregarded my request and made me feel uncomfortable. My lunch was $80 and I will NEVER go back. In these times, you would think restaurants would attempt to honor a request or at least try to make the customer feel valued. So disappointed. read more

Meal: Deviled Eggs (4 halves) - $4, a Center cut fillet with mashed potatoes and creamed spinach - $30, Stella Artois, coffee & Banana Cream Pie - $20. I don't recall the breakdown of the coffee/beer/desert but it balanced out the rest of the bill. I originally planned to go to Hillstone for dinner after seeing a show at the Lakewood Theater but it was packed & there were no seats available at the bar. Well, at least no seats that weren't next to a creepy, half drunk business man... I hightailed it out of there and noticed R+D (also a Hillstone restaurant) right across the parking lot so I headed that way. R+D was also packed but the atmosphere was much more relaxed and the hostess was the perfect amount of friendly. I snagged a seat the chef's bar which I highly recommend doing. One of my favorite things to do in restaurants is to watch the kitchen staff; R+D does not disappoint. This place was buzzing with activity. I don't think there was a seat open in the entire place. It was clear that the wait staff were extremely busy but my waiter Jake was very attentive (and pretty cute!). I started with the deviled eggs because there were a few Yelp tips about them. The eggs (4 halves for $4) are not your standard issue cups of eggy goodness. The yolk mixture is chunky and very well balanced with seasoning. Deviled eggs can be easy to over salt but these were great. My entrée was a center cut fillet with creamed spinach and mashed potatoes. These are the two sides listed with the steak on the menu. The potatoes were great! There was something mixed in with them, possibly crack or heroin (more likely cabbage) that made them unique but not too far off the base of comfort food. The creamed spinach was also changed up just enough to make it interesting but not so much that it didn't stay true to it's namesake. The spinach was delicious but could have been a little creamier. Both the mashed potatoes and the spinach had cabbage component - for me it was a bit too much similarity on one plate. The steak was average. It was a good cut and cooked perfectly medium. It had a good beefy flavor but there wasn't anything that stood out about it. I finished my meal with the Banana Crack err... Cream Pie which was hands down the best I've ever had. This is a must get dessert! All in all, I was highly impressed with the service and the food gets high marks as well. I definitely recommend snagging one of the handful of stools at the chef's bar so you can watch the kitchen staff as you enjoy your meal! read more

R+D Kitchen - View from the Chef's Bar. - New American Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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Servers are nice and food is good, not great, but the policies of the restaurant are so absurd and not worth going to. They refused to let us get dressing on the side for a salad due to dietary needs. They did the same for another dish we ordered where we asked for the sauce on the side - they flat out said no. We've been to other R+D kitchens and have had great experiences but will not be giving our business to this one. read more

The service is absolutely top notch all the way around!!! I actually don't think I've ever gotten such great service at this type of restaurant before. They are on top of refills and check to ensure you are satisfied with every dish. I had the deviled eggs to start which were delicious and come in 4 per plate. The carnitas sandwich is amazing and way bigger than what you'd expect. The fries are more of an appetizer side than a side with the sandwich so it's way too much for one person to finish. Food was delicious but really it's the casual atmosphere and the phenomenal service that set this place apart! Plus the price is totally worth it and more. read more

Charlie was our waiter and he was phenomenal! We received our food quickly (10 minutes max). At the end of our meal he brought us their signature guacamole and cheese dip with chips ON THE HOUSE since it was the first time we had ever been to R+D. Excellent customer service! read more

This is the most ridiculous place!!!! I called to make a reservation for 6 people. They will not make a reservation over 5 people! You are allowed to come in and try and get a table but it's first come first serve. So very disappointing! So If you want to wait for over an hr or more with a bday party or anything else , sorry we can't accommodate you. Only up To 5! So stupid! What a waste, oh well, onto the next place! I will not recommend to anyone who wants to eat with friends. :( read more

R+D has a special place in my heart. When I come here I always know I'm going to be served quality food and spectacular service. I really enjoy the veggie burger. It has the right amount of texture and isn't mushy at all. The Reuben sandwich is spectacular. It's stacked with layers of pastrami between two pieces of rye. Yum. The only thing that I did not enjoy was the sushi. We tried the coconut shrimp, some roll with macadamia nuts, and a salmon like tower. I found the sushi to be pressed too hard which in turn releases extra starches that are not appealing to my tastebuds. The texture is just weird. If you're curious about the sushi, you would try the salmon tower inspired roll (not sure what it's called on the menu) or the seared tuna roll. read more

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Food was good but way overpriced. Apparently they don't take to go orders over the phone as I was snottily told by whoever answered the phone , Ashley I think, and then when I walked in the restaurant to order, I stood there for a few minutes while the same person that probably answered the phone was doing something on a register/ computer not even acknowledging me .It would've just taken a second to say " hello, I'll be with you in a moment" read more

Highly recommend coming here for an upscale yet casual dinner or for a few drinks. R+D is relatively small with an intimate atmosphere. There's a small bar that seats no more than 30 people and the restaurant has around 25-30 tables, so it's not huge. There's also a pretty cool outdoor seating area with 7-8 tables. I've been here several times and the service is always fantastic. Cliff, one of the waiters, is really great. Try to get him if you're able to! I'm not even a huge fan of sushi, but the coconut shrimp roll is amazing. Very fresh ingredients. I also really love the ruebenesque sandwich. It's massive and a little messy but extremely good. I've had the fries four or fives time and to be blunt, they're not good. They're always over seasoned and over cooked. The meatballs also are not my favorite, very basic. Be advised, if you come on a weekend in the evening, you're going to have to wait probably at least 30-45 minutes, so plan accordingly! I give it four stars as opposed to five because the crowd here is pretty snooty and the fries suck. Here's my overall ratings- Atmosphere- 4/5 Quality/value- 4/5 Food- 4/5 Service- 4.5/5 Drinks- 3.5/5 read more

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Lousy service minus getting water filled everytime I took a sip... Food was decent but standard fare. It's a cool setup of a restaurant but I don't think I would make my way over here unless someone else wanted to go for drinks. Maybe the service will be attentive next time. read more

This is probably my favorite spot in Dallas. I usually always get the dip duo, deviled eggs and the spicy tuna roll. I also highly recommend the veggie burger and the cheeseburger. Consistent, tasty, good portions, great atmosphere, close to home, right next to my fav grocery store. What more could a girl want? read more

Went back to enjoy the famed Carnitas Sandwich only to find they took it back off after only two weeks on a secret menu. Never was printed. Very disappointed. They were gracious but at the end of the day this is why I like RD and unfortunately don't have a reason to return. read more

Great food and superior service. Had crispy chicken sandwich and coconut sushi. A lot of food but had to finish.

We were looking for a place to have lunch on Easter Sunday and we were headed to the Cheesecake Factory. However they had a long wait so we looked at yelp to see what else was in the area and we hit the jackpot! To start, the building itself is quit architecturally significant. From the outside the place looks great, and once you get inside, you can help but notice the beautiful wood ceiling. My eye was also constantly being drawn to the arrangement of pictures on the wall opposite to the entrance. They also had some pretty chill music playing loud enough to hear and appreciate, but not so loud that we couldn't hear each other talking. The next thing that impressed me was the fact the water glasses were chilled. We started with the dip duo and again, I was impressed. I don't like queso, but if all queso tasted like theirs, I'd eat it weekly. I also had the crunch shrimp sushi and again, I was impressed. I also had the sunnyside and it was also impressive. All together, I can honestly say that all five senses were aroused during my time here and I'll definitely go again. read more

R+D Kitchen - The sunny side with an over medium egg - New American Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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Service and quality of food were amazing. We set by a booth close to the bar and we were very impressed with the added attention to detail from the staff and how well they work together as a team we were helped by almost every single person in that restaurant, making sure that our plates were cleared at the right time that our drinks were at the table and when we had our first try of our food someone came to check on us and the food was just amazing. The drinks were also really good. We highly recommend this place from 2 foodies who love food in Dallas. read more

Place was really cute, a tad pricey but worth it if you're treating yourself. Also, one of the best burgers I've had hands down!

The policies that they enforce do not make sense whatsoever. Per policy they only allow 2 people to sit at a table that sits 4 people. Then if you are sitting down you can't wear a hat yet the person in front of you at the bar that is 4ft away from you can wear a hat because it is considered a "casual" area. The policies they are implying do not make sense and it needs to be updated. Food was great! Catherine, the manager was not helpful at all. She did not care about our situation nor to help it. It was more of a I'm going to throw the policies at you and not worry about compassion at all. Honestly, the host person was alot more helpful and caring than Catherine was. She should take over her position for sure. I was given an attire standard note, which the rules on there contradict itself. Love this place, but no so much the environment some of the staff provides. Especially when it comes to management. I eat here constantly and it is always a hit or miss with the staff. They want to act like they are fine dining, but it is far from that. Dining should not be this difficult with so many rules. Especially rules that nowadays don't matter unless you're eating at a Michelin Star restaurant, which this is by far not even close even though they seem to think they might be something close to it. read more

This is my absolute favorite spot in Dallas. Nothing even comes close to the craft, creativity and execution this place offers for a fairly reasonable price. The staff are extremely precise consistent and personable, and the interior environment is architecturally very dope. It's just so damn good. It's been a very long time since I've had a place that I literally day dream about like R+D. Thank you to whoever conceived of and runs this magnificent spot. read more

Five Stars for sure. Excellent food and service with a superb drinks and wines. Great bar scene, good outdoor seating. They test new flavorful dishes here all the time. OUTSTANDING service and high quality food make this place FULL of University Park residents each night of the week. Fresh, local and fun. read more

This is a great restaurant! I wish I could give more details, but the staff is excellent, the food is fantastic, the scenery and experience are always exceptional. As I said, the place is simply outstanding! read more

My partner and I would like to eat at R+D Kitchen because the menu is simple and the food is delicious. The reason I rate them as three is the staff. First is the hostess. I'm thinking I'm not the only person getting irate when they ask "What can I do for you?". I'm coming to a restaurant and I believe it's obvious why me and my family is there. No service person should ask that question unless their service is vague, which, in this case, is not. Second is the waiter staff. Please do not ask how the food is when my mouth is full with it. But the worse thing is they are pushy in taking your order, getting your plate away and giving your check. I really hope that staff will put more effort in creating a better atmosphere. read more

Thanks to Ashley Haymaker, general manager, and her staff for excellent customer service to our out of town guests on 4/16. We thoroughly enjoyed the food and experience at our special table for our group. Don and Sheryl Kappus read more

The bad: snobby dress code, and overpriced. Three of us went because burgers and sushi were on the menu. The burger was stacked high with iceburg lettuce and a dry bun. The $18 spicy tuna roll was not spicy, and had a plain rectangular rod of jicama (a root vegetable similar to raw daikon) that just doesn't work (apparently needs more R&D). I'm puzzled why I was told to take my hat (a new runners cap) off, but another patron my age wore a trucker hat, and another more senior to me wore a visor. I think the staff is uneasy with enforcing the dress code. The good: nice building and the cashew-kale salad is solid. Advice to the owners: drop the posh act, and boost the quality of food to match the price. read more

Generally speaking, most restaurants mask their food in seasoning and sauces and such and you're left with a generic dining experience. High end restaurants let the ingredients speak for themselves but you're also left with a high end price tag. But what R&D has done is combine a high end dining experience in terms of food quality with low end prices. Superb. Two meals at R&D in and I am in love, it is my new go to place for a nicer meal by the office, during or after work. The Deviled Eggs are superb, better than anything you've had at some family function. They're not too mustardy, not too much mayonaise, just the right amount of spice with a hint of celery for crunch. And at $3 they're a steal. The Carnitas BBQ sandwich is epic, layers upon layers of flavor. This sandwich is indeed the mayor of flavortown -- moist carnitas pork, sweet BBQ sauce, crunchy cole slaw, etc. etc. Sure, it is messy as all get up, but it is worth it. And the meatloaf (which I had for dinner), might be the best meatloaf I have ever had not cooked at home. It is technically a mushroom meatloaf, so look for it on the menu. It is cooked medium well, slightly sweet and caramelized on the outside, very juicy and tender, not over sauced or seasoned. And it comes with cauliflower mashed potatoes and amazing sauteed spinach and onions. For dessert, definitely go for the banana cream pie. It is a wonderful graham cracker crust with chocolate chunks topped with a not too sweet, not too rich banana cream. Then they finish it off with giant chunks of fresh banana and a wonderful whipped cream. For someone who isn't a banana fan, I dug it. And a note on service - it is great here. If you're in a hurry at lunch, they can get you in and out in a few minutes. If you're looking for a quick dinner -- which we were -- they'll also get you in and out (to get the movie we were trying to catch). They're also kind, friendly, and funny. We had an ongoing conversation about the things we'd want to eat if we were on death row -- our waitress loved it. All in all, definitely one of the better dining experiences in Dallas. read more

R+D Kitchen - Deviled eggs. - New American Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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Have been going to R & D in Preston Center since it opened, so I was puzzled when I heard how bad the service had gotten from neighbors! Then, I was shocked when I walked in and had no wait time. Had a great meal with a good waiter- Jackson. But, then when I saw several people I knew on the way out and wanted to have a glass of wine at one of their booths, I was told I could not, they were only for two people. When I said I'd been coming there for years, the hostess and waitress were both so rude it was like we were not in our neighborhood restaurant anymore! so sad! Not the place it used to be! read more

Can't believe I haven't reviewed this place yet. I've been coming here on and off over the years and have never had a less than delicious meal. For appetizers, you can never go wrong with the deviled eggs, which are one of the best deviled eggs in town. Every entree I've had has also been good... whether it's a salad, the salmon entree, or a good old hamburger. And even though R+D is not an Asian restaurant, their sushi rolls are also creative and delicious. Finally, for dessert lovers who are interested in something other than chocolate, I highly recommend the carrot cake. R+D is definitely one of the most consistent restaurants in town. Come here if you don't like taking chances with your food. :) read more

Will definitely go back when I'm in town. Was looking for some fresh light dinner and it's exactly what I got. The service was amazing too! Highly recommend read more

I had lunch there recently and felt rushed out of there after we ate. I was visiting with a business associate and they came by and took our plates the minute we took the last bite, came back took our tea glasses without asking if we'd like a refill, and then came by and took our napkins. He brought check and basically stood there watching until I signed it. It was unbelievable. I've been here before but did get same treatment. I understand lunch hour is busy but our bill was $60+for lunch so I expected to get a little better treatment. Very disappointing. read more

We went for lunch this past Saturday and asked to be out on the wait list for the patio. The host took my number and my name popped up so I know she had the right number. We were told it was going to be a 45 minute wait so we decided to walk around, 45 minutes come and go and no txt/call. We go back and there are people who arrived after is sitting on the patio having lunch! My boyfriend said let it go and we ended up at different restaurant. Pretty crappy and very disappointing!!!! read more

When I want a nice, classy dinner, R+D is the place to go! I will admit that my family and I got terribly sick within minutes off of the sushi once, so I won't be trying that again. BUT, here are a few of my favorite that you should definitely try: the pine nut salad, salmon, and ice cream sundae. Everyone will try to steal your salad, and the ice cream sundae is served in a mug with rich chocolate fudge syrup and homemade whipped cream. YUM. read more

My friend Katherine encouraged me to try R&D kitchen and so today we embarked south and made our way to Preston Center for lunch. We order two samplers, the deviled egg and Chicken meatballs. Both were delicious but the chicken meatballs are to die for! A real treat! I tried the Reuben sandwich and this was a very unique approach to a classic boy was it good. Katherine, quite disappointed they discontinued the veggie burger and opted for the fried fish with coleslaw of which I sampled and we both agreed it was very good. Great atmosphere! This is a dining experience worth checking out. The food is prepared beautifully and served artistically! read more

R+D Kitchen - New American Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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There is a reason you have to wait for a while for a table here. Everything is perfect! Cool trendy vibe. Great cocktails and friendly service. And they went so well with the deviled eggs starter. The pulled pork sandwhich with slaw is flavorful and just the right amount of kick. We want to go back to try the Reuben. The meatloaf was moist and well cooked and plated. And if you want a killer desert try the banana pie. This place is exceptionally well managed. read more