I've said this plenty of times, and I'll die on this hill: you cannot be a restaurant that has both outstanding food and a great, lively atmosphere. This restaurant is proof of that.
We came for lunch on Friday of Fourth of July weekend after being told they were fully booked for dinner. Even during the day, the restaurant was packed, which definitely speaks to its popularity. The menu is Mediterranean, which is one of my favorite cuisines, so I was excited to try it. Unfortunately, the food was just average. We started with the fried calamari and the Greek salad. The Greek salad was probably the best thing we ordered--fresh, flavorful, and well-balanced. The calamari, however, was disappointing. It was mostly chunks of fried breading with very little actual calamari. At one point, we picked up what looked like a piece of calamari only to realize it was just a tightly packed cluster of fried tentacles about the size of a golf ball. It was served with an aioli that was extremely rich and overpowering. A little went a very long way, and I found the dish difficult to finish.
For our entrées, my fiancé ordered the skirt steak based on our waitress's recommendation, and I had the chicken kebabs. They certainly didn't skimp on the portion size for the kebobs, but the chicken pieces were enormous and unfortunately very dry. I only managed to eat a few bites before giving up.
One thing that was surprisingly frustrating was the drinks. I ordered a Sprite and was served seltzer instead. Assuming it was just a mistake, I ordered another when my glass was empty--but I was brought seltzer again. It wasn't a huge issue, but it was odd that it happened twice.
The service started off well. Our waitress was friendly, attentive, and personable. However, once she went on break, it felt like we were forgotten. At one point, I dropped my fork and waited nearly 10 minutes for someone to pass by so I could ask for another. Eventually, I ended up grabbing one from the empty table next to us because no one came around.
Overall, this is a fun place with a poppin' atmosphere, and I imagine it's even better in the evening around sunset. That said, it's not somewhere I'd recommend for the food. I'd suggest coming for drinks, the ambiance, and the overall vibe rather than expecting an exceptional meal. The food wasn't bad--it just wasn't memorable, and it certainly didn't justify the prices. For me, it was simply OK. read more