The food is innovative and so well prepared. The servers are professional, yet warm and friendly and make you feel at home. You can find a table in a quiet remote area or in two small dining rooms with well spaced tables. It's just lovely, It's a surprising find for downtown Arlington Heights but would easily compete with a Chicago establishment. And the Chicken sandwich with Pimento Cheese is to die for! read more

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Always delicious, never had a bad meal here. Not the portion sizes you get at 'normal' brunch places but A+ quality.

Came here for the very first time last week to have brunch with a friend to celebrate his birthday. I learned the menu is seasonal and based off of what is fresh so it is always changing. This place was packed to the allowed capacity both indoors as well as outdoors. The service was quick friendly and ample amount of employees. Unfortunately when I arrived they did not have my reservation although I had called prior. They told me they were no longer taking reservations and then asked me who I spoke to. I honestly have no idea who I spoke to as I did not take a name bc I trust the restaurant and it's employees understand its policies around reservations when applicable. Despite this we were seated immediately. The food was good and it was exactly as described. It was great to see some unique ingredients as well as a very simple and clean presentation. We did not order any alcoholic beverages although I will do that in the next visit. I am not familiar with this downtown area but it was great to see the Arlington alfresco happening. Parking is a couple blocks away due to Arlington alfresco shutting down the streets and limiting parking. I would definitely come back and try new items on the menu as the menu is seasonally changing which is exciting. read more

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A big fan of Scratchboard kitchen; from their changing menu to the farm-to-table concept, this place is a great brunch spot. The service was friendly and helpful with plenty of suggestions should you need recommendations. We tried the- Pastry board: filled with seasonal pastries this was delicious. The pop tarts were especially good. LOX ON TOAST (LEMON CHIVE CREAM CHEESE, CAPERS, EGGS). This looked fresh and the person who ate it said the lox was exceptional. FAT ELVIS FRENCH TOAST (PRETZEL BREAD, BANANAS, PEANUT BUTTER, CHOCOLATE) this was decadent and so good. I think it's a great option if you're sharing dishes. BREAKFAST BISCUIT SANDWICH (BACON, EGG, CHEDDAR, BUTTERMILK BISCUIT). So, so good! Everything tastes homemade and fresh. Honestly, decadent without feeling glum afterwards. FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH (PIMIENTO CHEESE, RANCH BISCUIT, PICKLED ONIONS) we made it dangerously spicy and it was well worth it. CRISPY POTATOES WITH SPICY MAYO were delicious! A large portion too, if you're inclined to share. FRENCH TOAST DUNKERS (FRENCH TOAST STICKS WITH GREEK YOGURT FUNFETTI DIP) this portion is big enough for adults. So good- my son loved them. Drinks- FRENCH TOAST LATTE (ESPRESSO, CINNAMON & GINGER, STEAMED MILK) MATCHA VANILLA ICED LATTE (MATCHA, VANILLA, MILK) both lattes were delicious and way better than anything you'll get at a big box cafe. MUSHROOM BOOST COFFEE (LION'S MANE, REISHI, MAITAKE, CORDYCEPS) this is not usually on menus so if you see it you have to try it. My husband said it was good and earthy. A great place to go with a large group and try all the things! read more

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Such an amazing brunch spot. The food is beyond amazing, and the lattes are worth getting. I've been here 2 times now, and each time has far exceeded my expectations. The service is extremely professional and prompt. I believe you can make reservations which I might do in the future, but each time I visited, I was seated right away. It's a smaller dining room, and I am sure it probably fills up on the weekend. The s'mores French toast has been my favorite entrée so far, but do yourself a favor and get a side of breakfast potatoes. They taste amazing and It's a must every time I go now. I totally recommend this place, especially if you have friends or family visiting. The ambiance provides for a great experience. read more

This place is really cute, the staff is friendly. But the food? Atrocious. I was honestly embarrassed I invited friends here. I have never sent food back, but after one bite of the "falafel" I was honestly afraid I would be poisoned if I swallowed it. I understand everyone has their own spin on traditional dishes, which I can appreciate. But the falafel was foul tasting and seemed like it was a complete raw mush inside, it didn't resemble any normal falafel by any stretch. I should have prefaced that I have been to this place several times, the lattes were always consistent, and the food, even though it is severely overpriced, it was at least edible. We went for the vibes more than anything else. But this will be my last time, the portions seem to be getting smaller, it's almost like they are playing a joke on us. We also decided to expand beyond the regular latte and try the beet latte, which was just hot beet juice... gross. Even the regular latte was room temperature and sad tasting. The side of "maple sausage" was a regular sausage cut in half lengthwise and severely burnt. The side of artichoke was also burnt to a crisp. Not sure how it's not embarrassing for the cooks and the waiters to place food that was completely burnt in front of a customer and think that it's acceptable? By the way this isn't the first time we have gotten burnt food, they seem to have a pattern of burning bread too... which doesn't make sense? Just toast it the proper amount of time? Anyways overpriced, tiny portions, the cooks don't have basic cooking knowledge since everything is completely black and burnt, no one remembers how to make a latte, and the falafel will make you want to throw up. I only regret not taking a picture of all the burnt stuff, I just wanted to get out of there as fast as possible and never return. read more

I've been seeing and hearing about Scratchboard for some time, today we finally went out and visited. We ordered drinks while we waited, I had the champagne smash which was really great, I didn't get to take a photo because we were standing while we waited but it tasted as good as it looked. Definitely recommend. As for the food, I wasn't too impressed, I ordered the breakfast biscuit sandwich and I feel like it was missing a little something. The flavor and texture of the biscuit was pretty good but didn't wow me. My boyfriend had the fried chicken sandwich (dangerously spicy level) he said he also felt it needed a little pop of freshness since it is heavy with the biscuit and fried chicken. (Still good flavor) For an appetizer the waiter told us he had pop-tarts so we decided to give them a go, I was surprised that it's served as an appetizer a little too sweet for a beginner app but it was nice had it been our desert. Also has the French toast latte and that did not disappoint, just the right amount of sweetness. The two hostess (Nadiya & the other young lady I didn't catch her name) were incredibly attentive, great at multitasking and welcoming. I might be being a little harsher than I normally would but due to the raving reviews I was expecting a little more flavor and elaborate pallet. We will probably visit again and update my review. read more

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Finally got to visit, came here on a Saturday morning, it was packed so luckily we made reservations ahead of time. Will most likely be a long wait if you don't. Ordered the lamb shakshouka, crispy potatoes, mushroom boost coffee, and rose cardamom latte. Overall, it was all good but will say the crispy potatoes were super salty, unfortunately, but I will still definitely come back! read more

Scratchboard Kitchen - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

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I went to Scratch Kitchen and had the MOST amazing breakfast. Service was great and the food is phenomenal! This might be the best biscuit I've ever had! I bought my co workers gift cards so I'll be back with them! read more

Scratchboard Kitchen - Eggs, potatoes, biscuit and French toast latte with almond milk - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

This was our first time at this restaurant, we live in Arlington Heights, and it will be our last. We started with ordering a bottle of wine, only to be served a different bottle. Second correct bottle came out- no glasses and cork got stuck. Waiter took it inside then brought it back saying it was their last bottle and that they strained it. We ordered four sides to share as we were going to the Sound of Summer Series. The first appetizer came out- eh- just so-so. Would I order it again- no. The second side dish was crispy potatoes which looked amazing until while my husband was spooning some on to my plate, I saw a huge long hair. I was sick to my stomach. I called the waiter over and told him and he apologized and took it back. About 4 minutes went by- I was expecting the manager to stop by. No. I was furious. I went in and the manager was standing by the register. I told him that we would pay for our wine and the dish we ate. He apologized...period. That is extremely poor customer service and rude. Not to come out and apologize to your first time customer is not how I would handle my restaurant. we won't be back. read more

While certainly expensive, this place is an absolute stand out in the suburban brunch scene. The creative menu is chef curated by season with fresh ingredients and nearly all made in-house. The staff is exceptional - knowledgeable and incredibly well trained. They operate like a top restaurant in the city. The atmosphere is fresh, clean and earthy to mirror the menu. They've got a great shady patio in the summer and gender neutral bathrooms for a bonus. Now the food - wow. We've been several times and truly everything is incredible. As a gluten free pescatarian, I appreciate how many options fit my unique dietary restrictions. The gluten free biscuit is a revelation - this alone will keep me coming back! And my meat and gluten-eating husband absolutely loves the biscuit chicken sandwich. He dreams about it haha Like I mentioned, the prices can feel steep, but in my experience, it's always worth the splurge to enjoy brunch here. I know they also serve dinner, but we haven't tried that yet, but I'm interested! Will report back. read more

Scratchboard Kitchen - Gluten free biscuit - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

Really nice location amongst a number of bars and restaurants in Arlington Heights with plenty of outdoor seating, and nearby free parking. We elected to sit indoors (appropriately distanced and wearing our masks between bites/sips). The staff was extremely attentive and we enjoyed the services. The food was amazing! We had the lamb shaksouka and peach cobbler pancakes, both of which had their own really great depth of flavor for a nice opportunity to share savory and sweet. The mimosa was a nice crisp touch to cap it off. Will be returning to try more! read more

Scratchboard Kitchen - Lamb Shaksouka - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

This was one of the first few places I would only go back to on repeat when we first moved to a Arlington Heights. It all started with the host stand and wait staff, because they were incredibly accommodating and welcoming. Everything is incredibly good from the biscuits, which is a must order and any of their coffee's and a top favorite of mine is the cardamom latte. Anything you order from the food menu you won't be disappointed. I like how they make everything fresh on the go in an open kitchen concept. And if there is any time that you were thinking of going, I highly recommend coming in for breakfast or brunch. read more

My sister in law is always on the hunt for up and coming brunch spots, and she found an absolute gem with Scratchboard Kitchen in Arlington Heights. It's located in a little downtown area surrounded by a bunch of nice looking restaurants to eat at. Although the inside looks pretty small, they actually have a decent amount of seating closer to the back. Additionally, they had plenty of outdoor seating along the sidewalk. I really liked the vibe inside. It could've easily been a brunch place you'd find in the city with it's minimalistic industrial chic décor sprinkled with pops of green from assorted plants throughout the place. They were a farm to table menu that made everything from scratch. After briefly scanning over the menu, I knew exactly what I wanted to get: the fried chicken sandwich. Even before this whole chicken sandwich craze swept the nation, I've always been a sucker for deep fried meat for breakfast, whether it's chicken and waffles, country fried steak, or fried chicken biscuits. The fried chicken sandwich at Scratchboard Kitchen might possibly be my favorite fried chicken sandwich around. Usually I'm not a huge fan of biscuits in general because they're typically too dry on the outside and have such a one toned flavor, but I absolutely loved the biscuit here. This biscuit didn't need any type of country gravy or sauce to carry the flavor. One piece of the biscuit by itself was delicious with such a savory bite. It definitely had more than just butter in it. I can't tell exactly what it was but there were elements of cheese, ranch, and herbs like rosemary or thyme or something. It almost tasted like a gourmet cheddar bay biscuit. Surprisingly the biscuit was the star of the sandwich for me, but all the other elements were also legit. While the piece of chicken could've been bigger, at least you could tell they didn't use those massive chicken cuts pumped with hormones and water. This piece of chicken was extra crispy on the outside and had a nice seasoning in the breading. The meat was ultra juicy and seemed to be pure thigh meat. The pimiento cheese gave a nice sharp Merkt's cheddar type of flavor, and the spicy version of the sandwich added some sort of hot chili oil to mix with the mayo. I'm not even mad that it didn't have an egg on it. It was perfect as it was. We also tried some of the other items on the menu as well. The Dutch baby and gravy was a unique spin on the traditional biscuits and gravy. It was almost like a gravy soup in a flaky pastry bowl with an egg on top. While it was tasty, their biscuits are so damn good that I would've just preferred a ranch biscuit that gravy on top. That would've been a killer combo. The grits were super cheesy and creamy, and I'm surprised they aren't are more common item on brunch menus around here because they were awesome. The short rib hash was good, but a bit on the pricier side. Overall, Scratchboard Kitchen was an absolute win in my book. I'm glad we tried a variety of the menu items, but next time I'll definitely focus on the fried chicken sandwich, which is hands down the MVP of the menu. read more

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I was excited to finally try this restaurant after walking past it in downtown Arlington Heights. It has a cute atmosphere both inside and out. I ordered the biscuits and gravy (super salty) with an egg on top. I will say that the over easy egg was cooked perfectly. My boyfriend just got some breakfast potatoes which were good according to him. His daughter got the breakfast sandwich with the impossible sausage. She enjoyed it and ate the whole thing commenting that the biscuit was amazing. Unfortunately our waiter disappeared after delivering our order. So, when it came time to pay, my boyfriend went in search of someone to pay. Three stars for service and the incredibly salty food. Over and under seasoning food is what I consider to be sort of a rooky mistake and I expected more from this establishment. read more

My mom and I were walking around downtown Arlington Heights looking for a place to eat lunch. We watched all the amazing food go by as we passed Scratchboard Kitchen and decided to give it a try. We decided to get the Apple & Prosciutto Grilled Cheese and the Lamb Shakshouka to share. Both dishes were fantastic and bursting with flavor. There was absolutely nothing left on either plate! As we were leaving the manager gave us some boxes of pastries since they had already closed and we were the last customers. I honestly can't wait to come back because this place has the best customer service I've ever seen. Highly recommend. read more

Scratchboard Kitchen - Apple & Prosciutto Grilled Cheese and Lamb Shakshouka - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

Going out during this pandemic, was a treat. Arlington Heights truly cares for its businesses and made it a point to support them. Parked on the street...Free parking! Had a European atmosphere even though we were In Arlington Heights, Illinois. People were out mask, no mask, no care! Met some dear friends and former working associates of my Brides. It was a treat!!! The atmosphere was inviting the staff was truly having a positive vibe with its owner...in the Trenches! Molly was our server, a great interaction right from the start...knew we were going to be vibrant. Danielle, the lovely owner was so involved and stopped by to chat! No rush, no worries. View our photo choices and see what we enjoyed during our time; meals in a wonderful setting...Alfresco! Bloody Mary's had attitude...Hombre! Cheers & Mangia read more

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When I pay over $50 for a small section of short rib I expect some amount of attention to be put in the seasoning and cooking of the meat. What we got during our visit here was a sous vide short rib from an improperly salted and extremely fatty and sinewy cut of beef. Adding insult to injury, the kitchen seems to have spent as little time as possible actually searing the meat on only a single side which left us with a bland and greasy flavor profile. The lingering aftertaste had us actively trying to stop ourselves from throwing up over the next couple of hours as a means of reprieve. This establishment seems to forget that with an air of pretense comes the expectation of quality. read more

Farm to table done right. Not only does Scratchboard Kitchen serve up amazing food they also support the local farm community in the area. This restaurant is a vibe, not just a business. I personally go out of my way to eat here, especially since their menu changes a few times a year as the season changes. The coffee with the sweet vanilla cream is a must, and the Burrata is made to perfection and easily a go to to split with another person. The staff is very knowledgeable and kind, it is always busy so make sure you make reservations. Outdoor seating is available during warmer weather and sits on a busy street that makes it exciting. read more

Scratchboard Kitchen - Summer Grain Bowl - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

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Monthly the cousins get together for brunch. Coming from distances between Kalamazoo Mi & Whitewater Wi. September's request - MUST have an espresso martini! Well Scratchboard Kitchen delivered with the martini & our breakfast. When making our reservation I explained we are six female cousins who reconnected after 50 years & have lots of catching up to do (we typically have a 2hr window) yet wanted to be respectful of their business. They were happy to accommodate us! It was a chilly, drizzly September Saturday, we were seated at a long table by the window . Our server Nico, was very attentive explaining the specials & making suggestions. I appreciated the gluten free options. Everything was delicious. We thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience. Thank you read more

It kills me when a restaurant has posted hours and then turns you away. Their door says 8am - 3pm. I just walked in at 2:20pm and the lady at the front abruptly turned me away. Why don't you change your hours to close at 2:20pm if you are turning people away 40 minutes before your stated closing. I am hungry, I just got off a plane and I looked up your restaurant on Yelp and drove out of my way to get here based on your stated hours. I will never know whether your food is good or not! Suffice it to say that I don't like the way you do business from the "get go." read more

Came in just as they opened and when I left it was pretty full. The short rib hash was great, nice and savory. Their coffee is also very good too. read more

Scratchboard Kitchen - Short rib hash - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

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SCRATCHBOARD KITCHEN ROCKS! From the Hostess, to the Staff and THE FOOD! The Fried Chicken Biscuit Sandwich will knock you right off of your chair! Crispy buttermilk fried chicken with creamy pimiento cheese and crunchy pickled red onions on a ranch biscuit. May I PLEASE have 10 more of these! Make sure that you put SCRATCHBOARD KITCHEN on your very next place you need to go LIST! read more

Scratchboard Kitchen - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

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I wish this place was open during the week. It's my favorite for spicy bloody Mary's and brunch. I love that they switch up the menu. I always ask my waiter what to order- never been disappointed. read more

Scratchboard Kitchen - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

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This is a places where one is left to ponder the vagaries of success. Such as why one place soars and another fails. Frankly, I don't get why this place is so wildly popular. I've been so disappointed both times I've eaten there. The food seems to be focused on trendy dishes. But the thing is, trendy itself doesn't have any flavor, so to make it work you have to deliver the taste. Scratchboard misses that point. And please save me from waiters who think they're cool because they work at a popular restaurant. Coolness doesn't mean indifferent, brusk service. There are plenty of greasy spoon joints whose wait staff are efficient and personable. Scratchboard could learn a lot from them. Sadly I feel they are so popular they don't have to bother learning the basics. You can do better read more

My husband and I have been here a few times, both for breakfast and dinner. Each time, the food is fresh and inventive. I like that the menu changes with the seasons, including their craft cocktails. The atmosphere has more casual, downtown vibe, which is always nice to find in the suburbs. We met the owner during one of our visits, and it's clear there's a high level of pride in what they do. We keep coming back! read more

I came here for brunch and I really enjoyed the service as well as the food and overall ambiance. I got the short rib hash and a maple sausage as a side. The hash was very flavorful and short rib was tender. I didn't think the sausage was that good. The thing that surprised me were their lattes, the french toast latte was delicious! I'll definitely come back here again read more

Scratchboard Kitchen - Short rib hash with sunny side egg - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

Small menu that uses local, fresh ingredients. Stopped for breakfast twice and food was great. Not a fan of the latte but their drip coffee is good. read more

Came back on 6/25/2022 with more friends because of the delicious food and great experience from 2020. A downgrade to 3 stars because of inattentive wait staff (I had to ask for utensils and water for our group, strawberry French toast served with sauce poured on the toast when I asked for it to be on the side), and the not so refined way of giving customers the check. Wait staff carry devices that read your credit card which is great for efficiency but our waitress did not show us the receipt for our table. She just stood there and said she would take my credit card, then just flipped the device for me to click on the percent tip and sign. I had to quickly mentally calculate all food purchases total and a 20% tip. (The device only had a buttons for 25% tip and above on food cost + tax, not just food cost). I am not sure why this is the protocol now but it seems a but uncouth. Food - still excellent Prices - a bit higher than I remembered for small portions but such is the world we live in now (delicious spa water was $8 for only what I estimated to be 6 to 8 oz of drink due to too much ice in the drink); lox on toast was $17 for one piece of bread with very measly toppings; shakshouka $17; horchata overnight oats $12 Host - friendly (and I believe I saw the owner doing everything fr hosting to helping staff re-organize tables because rain started pouring while we were dining -- bow down to all your hard work, ma'am!) Ambiance - still fun and hip Restaurant - clean dining and bathrooms Needs improvement - wait staff attentiveness and way if presenting bill read more

Excellent. Fantastic and creative food and cocktails. Very friendly service. Make reservations. read more

5 star for the whole takeout experience! Honestly after we ordered the food (biscuit sausage sandwich and the fried chicken biscuit sandwich), I immediately regretted of the food choice! However, Scratchboard proved me wrong! The food didn't get soggy or greasy when we got to eat it at home like 30min later! My hubby who usually didn't like biscuit nor didn't think fried chicken worthy of the hype enjoyed the sandwich a lot! The elderflower lemon latte was like drinking a lemon cake dessert! Love it! And I love the coffee cup!!! Can't wait for them to open for dine-in! read more

Had one of the best meals I've had in awhile. We've heard from everyone that this was the place to go in the area, but we hadn't gotten the chance. My fiancé and I decided to split one of their pop tarts, spicy chicken sandwich, and horchata overnight oats. Food, service, concept, and management team are unmatched in this area. Excited to go back soon with their constantly changing flavors. read more

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Worst service I've had in a long time. Waited 10 minutes for a host to even speak to us. We assumed they were understaffed and were very understanding, but the waiter was just plain rude. He barely acknowledged us and seemed to be upset he was at work. Food was fine, but not good enough that we would ever return. read more

The food and service were very good, but the portions were very small for the cost, I had the Eggs in Purgatory, which was $14, and there was only 1 egg in the dish, it was very good but definitely not worth $14 read more

I have dined at Scratchboard Kitchen on 3 occasions, bringing a different friend each time. The quality of food and service is above my expectations. Each time we have had Stephanie as our server and she is outstanding. Love the farm to table concept and you can't pass on the pastries of the day! A perfect addition to the community. You won't be disappointed! read more

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First off I was very excited about going to pick up my carry out lunch from Scratchboard Kitchen. Unfortunately, when I arrived back to my office and opened the container that my lunch was in, I was completely disappointed in the serving size, Unbelievably expensive for a small little portion, left me dissatisfied and hungry. read more

Good Service. Over-priced food, small portions, nothing exciting. Many other better choices in same area, so pass.....................

Wanted to give this restaurant a second chance - tried a pop up dinner once and for sausages it was crazy expensive. Thought we try breakfast- usually less expensive and this is their supposed specialty. Warning -Sticker Shock! 2 egg biscuits, 1 crispy potatoes, 1 cold brew, 1 mimosa without tip was $67! Ridiculously way overpriced. Biscuits were average - I didn't care for the molded gelatinous egg. Maybe it was supposed to be soufflé like? If the menu was half the expense I would try again! It simply isn't worth it! read more

First timer and I'm so ready to go back. Scratchboard was amazing. The food was very visually appealing and tasted even better. The staff were all very professional and friendly. Our waitress, Stephanie, was awesome. Very personable and continuously checked in on our table. I highly recommend Scratchboard Kitchen. read more

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Mostly this review should be for the manager. I made reservations for 4, days ahead and we were seated at some silly bar stool style long table. This was Saturday at 11:30 a.m. Difficult to converse with the people seated across from you without yelling. Took nearly an hour after ordering our food to finally get served.The server was gracious enough to come by at regular intervals to see if we needed anything else. Very loud and uncomfortable. Seated under some type of vent blowing on my head ,close to the kitchen. I ordered the grilled cheese, less truffle, still charged full price. $16 dollars for a grilled cheese, no pickle or anything. When I complained about it, I got a nice smile. Sister ordered the eggs from hell, or whatever, and complained to us and the waiter, hostess or owner who visited our table, that is was comparable to an appetizer soup. No detectable spice to it. Looked exactly like something from Hell. That was greeted with a knowing apologetic smile. No offer to make things right. Why it took so long to be served is a mystery. Makes me think, if your order is not right, that's your problem. Long story short, I would not recommend this place . Just thought we would try a new place. Grade C food and lousy service. Overpriced. Small portions. Zero ambiance.. Maybe trying to be too trendy. Mention of some "chef" on the menu. Please go back to home ec "chef"! Contact by rep/owner. Sorry no change with review. read more