I've never been here before. I ordered a strawberry extreme smoothie, and that's was decent. Then,…read moreI ordered the "original" Acai Bowl - bananas, granola, organic acai, and peanut butter. The acai is like a gelato. It was ok but not great. The bannana, peanut butter, and granola were good enough. Fair disclosure, it was dinner time, and this defitnetly not enough, so maybe that didn't help. The rating is about the food, not the service, which the folks were attentive.

Artificially flavored drinks barely any real fruit excessively sweet in a flimsy foam cup.read more

Dinner at Aladdin's in Independence: ~3 - 4pm, 28 January 2026:…read more     Sorry for the delayed review.  While out running errands on 28 Jan. 2026, ~2-3pm my wife and I decided to stop for a dinner date at Aladdin's in Independence. The manager/hostess (Nicole I believe) was very patient and accommodating as we decided whether we would order carry-out or eat-in.  We decided to eat-in which turned out to be a good choice.      I had a Grilled Tuna Salad and my wife had the Hummus Chicken Plate dinner.  Both meals were delicious, reasonably priced, and we both enjoyed the meal again at home a couple days later, thanks to the generous portions and a doggie bag.  They were still very delicious, even reheated!      What really made our date so pleasant was our waitress Eva and the manager/hostess, Nicole.  Eva was very friendly, polite, and knew the menu very well.  Eva gave advice, answered questions and suggested options with a smile.  She was very helpful and patient as we were going through the menu trying to decide.  Both Eva and Nicole were very attentive and made sure to stay on top of refills and make a friendly pass-by every now-and-then to check on us, as well as other, customers to see that everything was fine.  Their friendly service with a smile made us very comfortable ... as if we were family.

Great service. Loved the spicy cauliflower appetizer I had along my baba Ghanoush. Amazing.read more

I really love coming here! They always have great options, friendly staff, and a good atmosphere.read more

Met the owner who so kindly and patiently walked me through the entire process of ordering (was my…read morefirst time in a nutrition shop like this one). As someone who loves coffee and doesn't enjoy tea so much, I was a bit skeptical. She recommended a drink that didn't taste too much like tea and also explained every other drink and add on that you could put into your tea, shake (both of which had a large variety of options), or coffee along with the benefits that these enhancers had. I chose the "Skittles" tea and was blown away by how tasty it was and how much it DID NOT taste like tea. 10 outta 10!! Stellar services, delicious drink, and a beautiful atmosphere inside of the shop. Will definitely be back and hope the owner nothing but success.

I first discovered Gourmands around 2002 when I worked in the area. It was famous then- great…read moreservice, delicious sandwiches, all my coworkers were obsessed with the chippers. We loved the spot and was always a treat when we had Gourmands for lunch. I am back working in the area and was pleased to see they were still open. It's been 20 years probably, I prepared myself to be disappointed. Surely, they can my be at the same caliber as before? I bet someone else bought the place and quality went downhill? I was gleefully wrong. Same great service. Same wonderful, plentiful menu. Same excellence and quality. Same chippers! My sandwich was Giant, perfectly crafted , fresh and ready in the appropriate amount of time. I was so happy to enjoy my lunch there and see it was still bustling with patrons. You must check out Gourmands

Everything was delicious with my breakfast sandwich, except the eggs were either baked or…read moremicrowaved. It was also super thin.

This Panera is a very conveniently located off Rockside Road in Independence. It's within 3-5…read moreminutes drive of the local hotel cluster. It's located in a plaza that former Melt used to call home. There are plenty of parking spots. It provides an average Panera experience. Location appears dated. The interior is not very clean. Efforts were underway (during morning coffee rush hour) to wash the front doors. Not very good timing, but at least there is ongoing cleaning. There were just a few guests dining in. Seating is available inside and outside (plenty of patio tables). Service wasn't too friendly. Employees uncomfortably stare at all guests as they select pastries or bagels. Two people in front of me had questions about pastries and weren't getting answers. Ordering is available at the counter or through fast lane kiosks. They are located to the left of the counter. They provide order and checkout via a tablet. Guests can watch their orders via "track your orders" tablet. Orders were up pretty quickly. My order: -Asiago Bagel Sausage Scrambled Egg - Not very good. Not flavorful. Sausage tastes like something out of frozen foods package. -Toasted Bagel and Cream Cheese - My bagel was over toasted and too dry. I generally like Asiago bagels at Panera but this one was worse than their usual It wasn't the worst experience but I wouldn't return to this Panera. My decision is based on their food quality and service.

I ordered a pick two (salad and sandwich) and added a bowl of soup. The sandwich was very messy and…read morethe soup was totally watered down. Terrible to say the least. Never again.

Metropolitan Coffee is such a cute hidden gem tucked away in Old Brooklyn. You can really tell they…read morecare about quality--everything is made from scratch, even the flavor syrups, and they use Rising Star beans. The menu has some standout breakfast options you don't see often around here, like loaded grits (a rare Southern find in this area). The grits were absolutely amazing--definitely my new go-to breakfast craving. The blueberry cream cheese muffin totally lived up to the hype too: moist, sweet, and perfectly balanced. We also tried the seasonal strawberry mocha. The coffee itself was smooth and well-made, though the strawberry flavor was a bit subtle. The vibe is one of the best parts--lots of seating, a mix of people working and chatting, and the kind of cozy atmosphere that makes you want to stay awhile. They also host yoga twice a week (Thursdays and Sundays) and fun events like game nights, which adds to the community feel. Definitely a spot worth lingering in.

Another coffee nook win. When the barista said the cookie was going to be decadent, he absolutely…read moremeant it. Rich, indulgent, and worth every bite. They also had a small selection of food items, and everything looked scrumptious. I ordered a spicy latte paired with a chocolate brownie (perfect choice), and the combination was comforting with just the right kick. The atmosphere is what truly sets this café apart. It's designed in a way that makes you want to stay for hours -- calm, relaxing, and easy to get lost in. I'm already looking forward to stopping by again next time I'm in the neighborhood.