Greasy food and servers with less than welcoming attitude. Dinning room is very noisy.

We picked up Revival Bar & Kitchen for a pre-Thanksgiving supper tonight & were delighted by the sophisticated flavors, care in preparation, easy-to-follow directions. I'd highly recommend this neighborhood restaurant for their consistently delicious meals, & recommend ordering any holiday meal they advertise. You will not be disappointed. My compliments to the chef. read more

Revival Bar & Kitchen - Nom nom! - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Pros: - Food was delicious - Service was friendly - Location was a minute walk from theater Cons: - Food portions were very, very small for the price. Left the restaurant still hungry (this never happens). Was with a party of 4 and we ordered 3 starters and entrees each. This is not a cheap restaurant, so it was pretty shocking how tiny everything was (the fries we got was probably a quarter of a potato for instance). - Service: we arrived 15 min early to our rsvp (6PM) and we still waited for over an hour and a half for our entrees (after 7:30PM). Even though we got starters due to the smallness of the size we were starving. This was also strange since the server when we sat asked if we had time constraints (we did--a play that started at 8PM). We just had enough time to eat quickly and then run to the theater that was (fortunately) less than a minute away. General: - They did comp our first round of drinks due to how long our entrees took to be served. - Can't help but feel this is a reflection of a restaurant that is struggling financially where they are cutting corners on the amount of staff and reducing portions. It makes me sad. read more

Revival is truly one of my favorite bar's to sit at in Berkeley. It is so homey and comfortable! Recently Isaac has been behind the bar for happy hour (which is back 4-6 weekdays- I could be wrong, it might be all week). He is an amazing mixologist and is always willing to craft you something to your flavor or alcohol preference. He has been creating really imaginative and exciting drinks for their cocktail menu lately. It helps that Revival has a great liquor selection. The happy hour menu is great, as is the dinner menu! Everyone that works here cares a lot about the customers experience and they go out of their way to ensure you have what you need. The food is always excellent. read more

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Chef and staff Absolutely nailed it! Have been a fan since back when; but this was my first time back for a full meal since the pandemic (although we have done their great happy hour from time to time). Total value proposition- generous portions for quality fare. The vegetable paella ( optional seafood add in) was better than what I recently had in Spain. Perfectly cooked with bright, fresh flavors and a delicious romesco sauce to mix in. The BF adored his baby back ribs and we both enjoyed the Syrah from Lebanon- as good as any French offering at a higher price. read more

Revival Bar & Kitchen - Vegan paella - yum! - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

Full disclosure: I only ate there once, with three friends. The Caesar salad and my friends' dinner entrees were great, as was the service. Prices weren't bad and the wine pour was adequate for the money. However the Margarita pizza I ordered was a big disappointment. The thin crust pie had the requisite spots of char but instead of being a bit crusty (as thin crust pizza should be) it was soft and doughy...a big turn off. They need to work on this. Otherwise it's a fine restaurant in a convenient location near Berkeley Rep theatre. read more

This place was "full" on a Saturday at 5:15pm. They got us some barstools behind the bar but the tables were empty for at least the next hour. But more importantly: The value is seriously lacking for what they're charging. I ordered some confit duck wings ($17) which came with 6.....bones. Literally, these must have been the smallest ducks on the planet. Half the wings (flats) were just bones and crispy batter. The drums were chicken sized. The supposed glaze was non-existent and they were fairly bland. Total rip-off. People I were with got a burger ($28 w/ avocado) which was good but not unlike a burger you could get at any restaurant. And we tried two pizzas (about $25ea) and they were also OK. A few cocktails throw in and we had a $200 meal of a burger and pizza + wings. Nah, I'm good. There's so many better options nearby. Sorry, Revival. read more

Wonderful Food, FABULOUS SERVICE!! This place is a MUST TRY! My bosses have their business dinners here, so I thought I'd give it a try. Welp! I've been twice now and the experiences are the same - best dinner, great customer service, and we created memories that will last a lifetime. The first time I went was Christmas Eve with my parents, sister-in-law, and boyfriend. They had a fixed menu and the meals were delicious! Both my boyfriend and I have meal restrictions. He's a vegetarian, and I am a pescatarian. I can confirm that this restaurant goes out of their way to accommodate all palates. Then, my mother called me in March and asked that we go back to the restaurant for Mother's Day. And, the experience was more spectacular than the last time! A special mention must be extended to Maximo. He was the consummate professional. He was attentive, communicative, and very focused on customer service. The food was SO good. There were 15 of us. And, we were so busy talking that I did not take pics. But, trust me when I tell you that you will not be dissappointed. I will be back again and again. read more

We were going to see Third World at The Freight, the place was packed, so many theaters/shows in that area! The staff was great, a well tuned group. The food/ambiance were great! We had a great charcuterie board, focaccia with 3 spreads and a mix of corn ribs/shishito peppers all delicious! I did 4 stars because our waiter never refilled my tea, kinda disappointed but giving it thought, he was very busy! I'd definitely go back, the burger/pizza looked amazing! Great area of Berkeley! read more

Finally went INSIDE Revival after passing by it for years. It's as I imagined - kind of old school posh vibe but casual at the same time. The menu sounds and feels rich in taste and flavor, but the food is not. The highlights were the arancini and kale salad. Both were flavorful with sweetish chilis on the side of the arancini and kumquats in the salad. Probably best to skip the clams and mussels soup as the coconut milk and flavors are not what one (or maybe just I) would expect. The same for the prime rib. The cod was tasty with some fresh vegetable sides. read more

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came to @revivalbarandkitchen for a friends birthday celebration! it was a gorgeous space with upscale food and vibes, making it a perfect place for a special occasion. with a full bar and ambient lighting, I felt so welcomed and cozy in the space. the menu rotates based on seasonal ingredients and the chef's choice, but was relatively limited. the servers were sweet, but the food did come out quite slowly. -- -- -- pictured: " pepperoni pizza ($24) // a thing crispy crust topped with tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, sweet peppers, red onion, grana padano, and arugula. the size was around the same as a mod pizza and apprently they use central milling organic heirloom flour. while it was pretty good and I appreciated the high quality ingredients, I'm not sure if it was worth the price for me personally given the taste and size. " passionfruit cocktail ($12) // I forgot what this was called, but the cocktail was so yummy! with the right amount of citrusy notes and sweet passionfruit, it was such a delicious and refreshing drink. " RBK housemade balsamic sausage pizza ($25) " seafood linguini ($32) " canary rockfish ($29) -- -- -- the final verdict: the food was a little lacking for me to want to go back for that specifically, BUT would definitely be back to try more of their cocktailsat the bar because they were delicious! read more

Revival Bar & Kitchen - Ig @heatherr.eats - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Stop by for drinks and a bite before heading over to Freight & Salvage. We were very happy with their signature old fashion. Sooo good! We also shared a salad and a pizza at the bar and our service and food was excellent. The Pizza is made in a brick over and comes out toasty to perfection. We will definitely be returning. read more

I've been to this place a few times and every time is lovely. It's in a fantastic location, they have delicious food options, classy drinks, and an overall swanky vibe with good lighting and a great atmosphere. The bathrooms have eccentric wallpaper, which is a great place to take an edgy photo. They even have comedy on the last Wednesday of every month, and the comics are talented and get switched up so it's always new! Great place to take your friends to a nice dinner, go on a date for apps/drinks, or treat yourself to a comedy show and a glass of wine! I love this place and the people who run it. Cheers! read more

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Had a wonderful pre-show drink before seeing a show at Berkeley Rep. They had a good selection of whiskeys and bourbons. I tried a bourbon from High West in an Old Fashioned. We ordered the pricey 1/2 dozen oysters which were nice. We also got some french fries which were the shoestring variety with an interesting bleu cheese aioli. Service was fine and we got to the show on time. read more

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Last night, we attended their so called New Year's Eve event. It was supposed to have Cabaret, Comedy, music, etc. So where as Cabaret and Comedy? The music was acceptable but the rest was absolutely embarassing. Not to mention that the food was overpriced. read more

3.5 rounded up to 4 because of the fantastic bar seating and vibes! Came here for Berkeley restaurant week in March but ended up ordering À La Carte because the duck and seafood platter looked more appealing. The duck wasn't as flavorful as I had expected, and the seafood was fresh but not super memorable. Recommend the French 75 for drinks. read more

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Food: 3 Decor: 4 Service: 2 Came here for a date a while back but was rather disappointed by the experience. The food was rather average, although I liked the setup and decor inside. Service was rather absent, so overall it was an experience that wasn't particularly memorable. Would likely not come back. read more

This place has continued to evolve with time. I've visiting a few additional times, and I have to say it has really grown on me! I now count it as one of my go-to restaurants. The pros: The food is much better than my first experience. Some of the entrees are innovative and very tasty. I particularly enjoy the duck, which comes serves two ways (smoked breast and leg). It's delicious! The service is generally good, and I really appreciate that, as well. Finally, I've discovered that they make fantastic drinks. I feel like this place as gotten its "sea legs," even coming through the pandemic. Unfortunately, it's also way too expensive (but what isn't these days?). Some mixed drinks are $20! And entrees are generally around $40. With all this said, I'm going to amend my initial review, giving it five stars. read more

Celebrated my cousin's graduation at Revival and had an incredible time! We started with oysters and the artichoke--both fresh and flavorful. I had champagne, then the Pornstar Martini and Banana Republic--each cocktail was crafted perfectly. For dinner, I loved the Turkish flatbread and my steak with potatoes was spot on--tender and delicious. The vibe was warm, stylish, and festive, ideal for a special night out. Service was attentive without being overbearing. Revival truly made the evening feel memorable. Highly recommend! read more

I've only been to this bar for cocktails, but since that is one of their specialties, it's a good place to get together with friends or a date night. They are currently serving take out or delivery, but hoping that they make a full comeback after this COVID break. The last time I was here I ordered a Mezcal cocktail, while my friend ordered a martini style cocktail. We only had the one drink, but it was fun and worth every sip. They are even serving big batch cocktails to go right now. Great place and conveniently located near BART and a few parking lots. Makes for an easy location to dine in a busy part of Berkeley. read more

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The food was not good. The confit duck wings had little taste; there was not enough glaze. The mushroom duo pizza was burned and greasy. The grease dripped off the pizza and onto the table. The crab fritters were bland and didn't taste of crab. The cheesecake tasted days old. The best thing about our experience was Isma, who appeared to be either the lead bartender or bar manager. He made excellent drink suggestions and was very attentive. Hopefully, we were just there on an off day food-wise. Would try this place again just for Isma's excellent service. read more

Revival has been my go-to place before theater and concerts nearby. The food is solid and well made, if a bit unimaginative. The drink and wine program are small but well curated and the service has always been very good. Why two stars then? The place looks terrible - the pleather banquettes along the back wall are torn, frayed, and shabby, and the bathroom looks like hell - worse than shitty rock club bad - torn wallpaper and stains in the men's and a broken sink in the ladies. If you are going to charge top dollar ( $100 + per person for apps, drinks, mains, tax, and tip), please have the place look presentable enough for the folks willing to spend their time and money to visit. We may come back for their happy hour at the bar, but won't be doing any pre-theater/concert dining again unless I hear about a refresh. read more

My sister and I came here for an early dinner after a Berkeley Rep matinee. The beef bourginon and focaccia bread with dips were excellent. Service was quick and friendly, but we were charged for warm olives which we did not order. Also served potato chips instead of French fries. Will definitely be back, but next time will review the check before leaving. Should add that the ambiance is great. read more

Cocktail game on point! Up until recently, I had only been here a few times for drinks. Finally stopped by for brunch with a friend about a month ago, and we really enjoyed ourselves. The atmosphere is super classy as is the décor. It's a comfortable mix of fancy and casual if you can imagine that. I usually flock to the bar because the drinks are amazing here! Once upon a time they had happy hour until 6. Back then I was actually able to make it for HH in time. Nowadays, they've scaled back their happy hour times, but I still like to stop by for drinks regardless. Creative, sexy, and tasty is how I'd describe their cocktails. You ever seen a cocktail that's just too sexy to drink? Well, those are the kinds of drinks that get served up at the bar. The bartenders have always been fun and wonderful during my visits. Also delicious are their brunch cocktails! They're a bit different from their regular cocktail menu, but still super tasty. On a recent visit for brunch, a friend and I split the baked egg shakshuka w/ chorizo. We had waffles from Little Gem right before, so we decided to do something light. One thing to note about this dish is that it doesn't actually come with chorizo. It's pictured with chorizo, but you actually have to add it one. This was a bit misleading. They also didn't really provide much chorizo. Even for one person, I feel like this meal wouldn't be super filling. Flavor-wise, it was pretty tasty minus to overwhelming amount of tomato sauce. I'm sure that they have better dishes on their menu, but this one didn't really blow us away. Although the food wasn't the best, the service was outstanding. I feel like they really value customer service here. They checked in on us several times and everyone that we encountered was super friendly. Once things get back to normal again, I plan on stopping by again for another brunch day and of course for more delicious drinks. read more

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My employer rented the restaurant out for a company-wide event and everything was GREAT! They had a few different stations for buffet style food (pizza, smashed potatoes, antipasto, desserts, etc..). They laid the food out nicely (into a few different stations) so not one area was too crowded. All of the food was tasty (loved the smashed potatoes + sauce!). We could order drinks at the bar but they also had servers throughout the restaurant that would take your order. The bartenders were all friendly and quick, but the real star of the show was Laura! She was a fantastic server and incredibly attentive. Every time my drink was low she immediately was there to take my order for the next one - top notch customer service! Highly recommend this place for your next team event. read more

Interesting venue, overpriced drinks, lackluster food, disappointing service. Venue: Eclectic (if somewhat incoherent) decor. Sort of "fin de siecle," I guess. Slightly overloud but nonetheless pleasant music. Tightly packed, so you'll get to enjoy your neighbors' conversations if you're into that kind of thing. Other reviewers complain about parking, but - hey - it was only 9 bucks at a nearby enclosed parking garage on a Friday evening. No problems there. Excellent location for folks attending nearby performances. Overpriced drinks: Speciality cocktails reflect a creative spirit but are unbalanced, somehow too sweet *and* too bitter. Also, stick with the limited menu of options and don't make my mistake of ordering a standard cocktail like an Old Fashioned. You'll pay a premium price for pedestrian booze and then an add-on charge for the additional components, resulting in a $21 drink that barely fills half the glass but somehow costs more than one of their speciality concoctions. * Oh, and wanna tiny bottle of Mexican coke? That'll be $8, my friend! Lackluster food: Pizza is a specialty, but the RBK Housemade Balsamic Sausage Pizza features a chintzy scattering of bland sausage chunks (like, really, I could not discern any taste at all), not even one sliver per slice, and forgettable sauce. Charred crust, in contrast, is fine. Cost per item, though, is extortionate, even for this part of town. Service suffers from insufficient staffing (a lament recognized by other reviewers): pleasant enough but unable to meet basic requirements. Long wait after delivery of (surprisingly warm) water. No quality-check after meals were delivered - which could be a concern for anyone ordering a $42 steak in this joint. And after our meal, the server forgot to order one of our requested deserts. Given our need to depart for a show, we were at least gratified to find that the item was never put on the bill. When evaluating price, service, and quality, the Revival doesn't live up to its name. read more

Our first time here, and we left unimpressed with the food and upset by the service. There were four of us. My woman friend and I ordered a margherita pizza and a salad, and we clearly told the waitperson that we would be sharing it and would like two plates. A while later, someone dumped the bowl of salad down on the table and vanished. I got up and found another server and told them what had happened. Some time later, someone brought us one plate. So I ate out of the bowl. The pizza came: a 14 inch, uninspiring slab of oily, thin crust with a fairly tasteless tomato sauce a a few dollops of mozzarella (for $21). Once again, only one plate. So I ate using the pizza dish as a plate. No one ever asked us if we wanted fresh pepper. And our water glasses would sit empty a lot of the time until we asked for water. We were not favorably impressed by this place. The only reason it gets patrons is its proximity to Berkeley Rep, etc. It would go under anywhere else, and for good reason. read more

Food and service was great. When going to The Rep or Freight and Salvage a great choice

Thank goodness we looked up the rating on another site or we would not have gone in ... we had an amazing meal, delicious cocktails and a pre-theatre dinner we won't soon forget! We didn't have a res, and thought we would end up getting a burrito on the street ... and we saw RBK and went in. We had 2 different cocktails - bee jazzy and another and they were fab We had the fries as an appetizer, and steak entree, vegan paella and kale pesto ... all very good. The steak was arguably the best vm sour for money steak dinner I have had this year Fun vibe ... lotsa servers ... FAR exceeded Expectations and so much better than the three point x stars that the cumulative reviews gave them Give them a try ... We would late this a destination spot for us read more

Stopped in here after shopping for a quick drink. They had a happy hour going on with cheap ($8) beers and some bar snacks. I ordered the lime chicken wings which were so crispy and delicious. I also had the basilisk - but with vodka since I'm not a fan of mezcal- it was AMAZING! The bartender even made a little extra for me and I absolutely loved it. I can't wait to come back and explore more of their menu - plus the staff was great! read more

Revival Bar & Kitchen - basilisk - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

We walked in without a reservation on a packed Saturday evening and were seated immediately. Lively atmosphere with lots of dark wood and windows that open onto the street. Our server Vanessa was fantastic - she acknowledged our wait to place our order and then for our drinks to arrive and she was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. The tomato and cucumber salad and pepperoni pizza were both well executed - the pizza is some of the best I've ever had, definitely in my top 3. I would come back and recommend it to others. read more

Revival is FANTASTIC!! The food is delicious and artfully presented, the ambience and staff are excellent and always helpful. Just the other evening, Thanks to Lucy's terrific service, we made our Freight & Salvage concert in record time. BRAVA!! read more

Located in the heart of Berkeley's entertainment district. Freight & Salvage, Berkeley Rep, and the Aurora are down the block. They're very good at getting you out in time for the curtain. Food is very good, and service is excellent. The room is a bit drafty, so bring a sweater. read more

Fun vibe. I loved the house made focaccia bread. Excellent cocktail. Max and Zach provided great service.

This place is about as perfect as you can get. We've gone the last couple of years for our anniversary and the food was amazing. We had a peach and burrata salad that changed our lives and how we approach salad making. This last time, we had a charcuterie plate because we'd been to an art opening and had a bit to drink and had eaten some cheese. The plate was amazing. They had my favorite sheeps milk cheese, a fantastic liver pate, and pork rillets. To accommodate my inability to eat wheat, I was served with apple slices. Now as much as I trust them, I was a bit iffy about it, but it worked very well together. So well, that even though my husband had his own plate of sliced bread, he at quite a few of my apple slices. To drink, I had the guava spritzer which is really good. I've also had their limeade, which is equally good. The desserts here are amazing. We ordered the panna cotta (which is my usually go-to) and the flourless chocolate cake. They were both amazing! I know that when coming here I will not be disappointed. This is snail to tail, roots to shoots done right! I also have to say that the waitstaff is very good as well and I enjoyed meeting the young man who took care of us and hope to see him again on future visits. read more

I had high high high hopes for this eating establishment that has 3.5 stars. I wanted to prove Yelp wrong. But... wah! It is definitely a 3-star kind of restaurant. The service started out great. The drinks were good. My husband ordered a glass of Pinot Noir and I ordered a Gin Fizz. As the food came out, that's when it all fell apart. We ordered 2 appetizers, a salad, and an entree. Burrata Swanton farm strawberries, kumquat + tarragon vinaigrette, snap peas Trout Caviar Deviled Eggs Fennel, green onion, preserved lemon, herbs Pork Meatballs Ricotta, spicy marinara, grana padano Mishima Farms Wagyu Flatiron Steak Asparagus, broccoli + spring onion, ancho chili coulis, arugula, plaintain "latke" The salad arrived first, (it's was good but not anything spectacular) which was okay however we saw other customers who were seated after us getting their appetizers. Hmmm... okay. But then our steak arrived next. "What? I'm sorry. We're not ready for our entree because we haven't received our appetizers yet." Immediately our deviled eggs and meatballs arrived. They deviled eggs were also okay. The meatballs were ordinary and a little tough. Tastes like something I can buy from the Costco. Then we waited for a while. It's been an hour since we sat down and every time we looked for our waiter, he was busy buzzing around the restaurant taking orders or serving others. That was fine. When we finally got his attention, we asked for our steak. He was confused. He found out that there was a mistake with our order and the steak we returned was served to another table. (Yes, because we weren't ready for it when we were still waiting for our appetizers.) Momentarily, a steak appeared on our table. It was supposed to be medium rare. It was wagyu so I was expecting a melt in your mouth experience but... it was okay. The vegetables it was served on was really good though. We were given a free round of drinks with a Faction Spring IPA and Gin & Club Soda. We were there for almost 2 hours. Kind of disappointing as it was our anniversary dinner and we didn't even have time for dessert. Hmmm... not sure I'd be back especially for the price they were charging. read more

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3.5 STARS I was meeting up a friend for a show at the Aurora and he suggested going to Revival for dinner beforehand. I made a same day reservation through OpenTable for our party of two on Friday, December 14th at 6:15pm. Most of the patrons were gathered around the bar since happy hour had just ended, so not sure if you need a reservation if you just wannna have dinner. The dining room itself wasn't very busy when I got here. *Mixed Lettuces: radicchio, arugula, frisee, carrot, watermelon radish, herbs, golden balsamic vinaigrette ($10) *Happy Boy Farms Beets & Burrata: olive tapenade, pickled red onion, watermelon radish, arugula, black pepper vinaigrette ($14) *Rod Cod Bouillabaisse: shrimp, clams, mussels, calamari, tomato coriander broth, potato, braised fennel, arugula ($31) *Thick Cut Pork Chop: carrot soubise, roasted brussel sprouts, apple mostarda ($32) *A Mule Named Cranberry: vodka, pomegranate molasses, orange & cranberry shrub, lime, ginger beer, grand hotel blanc de blanc float ($12) *Botanist Islay Gin ($11): Martini (+$2) x2 *Templeton Rye ($9): Manhattan (+$2) I decided to start with a lighter cocktail. I'd basically been drinking for two weeks straight, so I wanted something a little refreshing. The mule was definitely that. Light and bubbly. I wasn't super hungry, so we just decided to share two salads and two mains. The pork chop was my fav. Savory and meaty. Not dry as pork can sometimes be. The fish was more of a bouillabaisse of mixed seafood versus being mainly fish. I thought it was okay. I'm a huge fan of greens and burrata so I enjoyed both salads. Though I could have done with even more burrata. I do love it so. My follow up cocktail was good. Though they didn't have a huge selection of rye. A convenient place to go if you're seeing a show across the street. read more

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I've now had two negative service experiences and won't be back. First time I told the server we were in a hurry and he appeared to understand, but proceeded to provide the worst slowest service - taking orders from people who came after us - passing by our table and saying "I'll come right back to get your order" and then forgetting. I finally had to get up and go over to the server area to demand that I place the order. The second time we were greeted by a very friendly manager who was awesome. However, the server was terrible. She seemed like she hated her job and was completely unaccommodating and not helpful when we asked questions about gluten free options. When she brought the glass of wine we ordered, the pour was so short that I think it was just a tasting amount. When we asked about it, the server basically said, "pouring wine is not my job" and we had to ask her to bring it back to the bar to fix it. She walked off in a huff and then gave us the stink eye while explaining it to the bartender. The manager brought a replacement glass of wine with the correct amount in it and apologized. The food is pretty good. I had pickles and liked them a lot. Apparently there's no way to make the mezze platter gluten free (we asked to sub out fries instead of bread but server said no.) The guy who actually brought the food to our table was also very nice and seemed happy, unlike our grumpy server. Bummer because the manager seems really great and there's potential, but two bad service experiences in a row and I'm out. read more

AMAZING PLACE! This is a must for anyone traveling through. We were stopping by on the way to Los Angeles and the food was amazing along with the customer service. A+++ THE BEST FOOD ON OUR TRAVELS SO FAR! read more

Place is trash. We arrived at 6:35pm we didn't get our drinks for over 1 hour. Our food came cold and was mediocre at best. My daughter ordered butter noodles and they gave her noodles with nothing on it. Just a ball of noodles dried up. It was pathetic. The manager came over and apologized, he asked how he could make it up. I told him i'd leave it up to him. When we got our bill he didn't discount anything All good, i'd never go back here even if they paid me. read more