I had a wonderful Mother's Day's brunch today at Tavern & Grocery. The brunch menu has variety and all look very good. The beignets were recommended by our waitress, and is delicious. Not the same as what I had in New Orlean but better. We had the pork belly, mushroom omelette and Duck Hash as the main brunch courses. All were delicious. The service was very good. We had a baby with us and they were very accommodating. read more

Tavern & Grocery - Brunch menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Stopped in for a solo dinner and really enjoyed it! Ambiance of the place is lovely, and service was great, the bartender Alex was professional, attentive and gave great recommendations. I had the Roman gnocchi which was so delicious and the cream sauce was flavorful, I wanted to lick the plate! I had two Howzit cocktails which reminded me of a BFK coffee! Highly recommended read more

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We visited for dinner with my wife and daughters after a UVA game one evening. Love the exposed brick and ceiling. They somehow deliver an elegant but casual but hip ambiance all at once. The service was fantastic and the food was a knockout. Dinner for four ran around 285 bucks. We will definitely be back. read more

This is place is a gem. They did an amazing job on every detail keeping the historic nature but making it feel comfortable. The eggs Chesapeake is where it's at. The crab cakes and sauce were perfect. Sit at the bar and let Niko pick drinks as a bonus. I watched the owner & chef be intimately involved and you could tell this was her passion, not just a business. I would go back and recommend. read more

First time visitor in town on business and popped in for dinner. It's a cozy venue that's nicely laid out with tables and a bar. I sat at the bar and the service was quick and polite. I got the scallop risotto and it was cooked to perfection. I will definitely be back because they have some desserts I want to try. read more

Tavern & Grocery - Scallop Risotto - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

The menu is a rotating menu which I always find fun and exciting. I ordered the salmon and my husband ordered the steak frites. No where in the menu did it say the ketchup for the steak frites was spicy. It would have been nice for the waitress (who was also the bar tender) to warn us. My husband likes spicy but I do NOT. No where on the menu did it say my salmon would be encrusted with veeeeery toasty sesame seeds. Everything else on my plate was on the menu, except for that detail. The seeds were so thick on my salmon I felt like it was a brick in my plate - although it was cooked nicely inside. Both meals were SUPER salty. The chef could lay off the salt. Cocktails were delicious. I'm not sure we'd go back - for how salty and the menu not telling me things, I don't need to go back. The speakeasy/cocktail bar downstairs was definitely worth it! read more

We really enjoyed our dinner at Tavern & Grocery. We ordered the Bruschetta, Steak Frites, Scallops with Risotto and Salmon. All the dishes were delicious! The server was attentive and we loved the ambiance. We will definitely be back. read more

Charming restaurant with a historic feel. We had the pan-seared salmon and enjoyed it very much. Nice wines, mostly French. Service was great! Thanks, John and Lucas! read more

Came across this place on the way to the speakeasy downstairs, Lost Saint. That place is definitely worth checking out too. I loved the vibe and decided to spend my milestone birthday here! The service was friendly, even to go as far as saying, "Go Hokies" because I was with a Hokie, even though this is UVA town! The squid ink pasta was light and fresh. For some reason, I expected a cream sauce, maybe wishful thinking? The beef tartare came with crispy waffle cut potatoes. The cocktail was yummy too-- can't remember the name but it was sangria-esque. If you're in Charlottesville, check out this spot along with the hidden bar below! read more

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Tavern and Grocery? More like Tavern and Grossery. I have had the distinct displeasure of dining here on two separate occasions, about a year apart. Suffice it to say, between the woefully under-seasoned food and absolutely abysmal service, I wont be back for a third visit. Put simply it is the one of the worst meals I've had in Charlottesville. read more

Super cute restaurant with exposed brick and really neat atmosphere. Kind of gives off a French cafe vibe. I got the duck hash and it was delicious. The croissant was great too, warm and buttery. Our server, Corbin, was attentive and friendly. Overall great experience! read more

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Came here for restaurant week. We were seated in the basement which had dim lighting and an atmosphere reminiscent of a speakeasy. The dishes we tried had some of the most creative and bold flavor profiles I've tasted in Charlottesville. For appetizers we tried the Fried Brussel Sprouts with Cherry Gastrique & Garlic Fondue; and the Grilled Peaches & Burrata with Micro Mint. The brussel sprouts were heavenly. They were fried well and paired nicely with a delectable garlic fondue. The grilled peaches appetizer was wildly refreshing and tasty. The creamy combination of grilled peaches and burrata nicely contrasted the micro mint to keep me intrigued with every bite. For entrees we tried the Sea Scallops with Fennel Dust, Roasted Fennel, Sea Beans, and Potato Puree; and Seared Duck Breast with Blueberry Gastrique, Creamed Corn & Local Sharondale Farms Mushrooms. The duck was delicious and one of the best duck dishes I've ever tasted. It was cooked perfectly and paired so nicely with the blueberry gastrique and creamed corn. This is a dish I will have dreams about for the foreseeable future. The scallops were good, cooked well, and plated in an interesting combination of sauces. For dessert we had the Pistachio Meringue Cake with Cardamom Caramel and Whipped Creme Freche; and Bailey's Butterscotch Creme Brûlée. The cake had unique accoutrements, but tasted underwhelming compared to the other dishes we tried in terms of jump-out flavors. However, the creme brûlée was one of the best creme brûlées I've ever tasted. And you heard right, that's a second best in one night. The perfectly caramelized top and soft custard base were so so good. It was so mouth-watering that my date cracked into it forgetting that I wanted to take a picture first! But I can't blame them, I have my moments of weakness with irresistible desserts too. Overall, I really enjoyed the ambiance and fine dining experience at T&G. Each dish was exploding with creative and carefully crafted, yet wonderfully cohesive flavors. I love the historic building and embodiment of "farm to table" that Tavern & Grocery harbors. I definitely need to come back for brunch. And I'm looking forward to returning. read more

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I had a great experience for dinner here! The atmosphere was my favorite part aside from the food. We went for the Cville restaurant week which was great deal. Our server was so knowledgeable and each part of the meal was great! My boyfriend got the lamb shank and was raving about it, I had the risotto and it was delicious. We left so full and satisfied. Will be back! read more

We stopped by Tavern & Grocery for brunch on our way back home from our trip to Shenandoah National Park. The restaurant has a small-town and warm feeling to it. Located in a historic building, we could see parts of the old building structure (bricks). They were quite busy, but we only had to wait about 5min to be seated. I ordered the Duck Hash and it was amazing! My eggs were perfectly poached. The duck was seasoned well and blended in with the potatoes and hollandaise. My husband ordered the Pork Belly and Grits. The arugula pistou added a beautiful color and helped to cut through the richness. The tomato butter was hidden under a piece of pork belly but really pulled the whole dish together. Before we found it, it felt like something was missing. Low and behold... tomato butter! My eldest ordered the classic Benedict and was pleased with her dish. She's very picky when it comes to grits, but really enjoyed the creamy texture. My youngest ordered fruit and bacon. You can't go wrong with berries, bananas and bacon. My husband ordered a grapefruit mimosa, but received an orange mimosa. When it was time for a refill, they brought him the grapefruit mimosa. Since there was an initial mix up with the drink, the manager brought him an orange mimosa on the house. Wonderful customer service. I ordered a coffee with cream and sugar. Locally roasted coffee. Yum. All in all, I'd come here again! read more

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Food was good but overpriced for what it was. Service was nice, cute place overall. Would maybe go again

I should've known from my previous experience that I would not have a good one again. The rudeness by the staff was so incredible that we got up and left. Nothing appealing about location due to the horrible customer service by the overbearing snotty and rude staff. Don't waste your time Charlottesville has so many wonderful places that offer a fantastic ambience and wonderful food. Let this one not be on your list. Difficult to park. Difficult staff no reason to ever go here. read more

The food was great...everything else about the experience was terrible. The evening my wife and I went here they had clearly overbooked the restaurant for an event on the main floor and did not have enough wait staff to cover. When we first arrived, we were told to go downstairs and then were not shown to our table. After 5 minutes of waiting awkwardly I eventually went to the bar to get told where to sit. We then waited 15 minutes before anyone even came to our table to greet us, followed by a 40 minute wait for anyone else to come take our order. This happened to several tables around us too. The service was so nonexistent that the 2 tables next to us actually got up and left before ever being waited on because it took so long. Overall, I was shocked and appalled by the experience. I shouldn't have to get up and go pour my own water at a restaurant when I'm dropping $120 dollars on dinner for 2. I would expect better service at a packed out sportsbar on a game day. There are a lot of good dining options in Charlottesville so I would recommend skipping this place. read more

The atmosphere and ambiance were the best things about this restaurant. We got to eat downstairs which was lovely! We started off with the clam chowder. If you have ever lived in Boston then lower your expectations for this clam chowder. You probably won't like it. It was peppery. And not very creamy. I'd give it a 3out of 10. Definitely NOT traditional New England clam chowder. The tartare was good but only came with 4 crostinis. For dinner I had the squid ink tagliatelle. Very salty. I got the $32 entree portion and the portion was so small! It was probably 1/2-3/4 cup of pasta and 1 lobster claw cut up. I have to imagine the $18 appetizer size is 3 pieces of pasta and a sliver of lobster. Bread service and a Caesar or side salad would be a nice addition. As it is there's no salad on the menu. Well there's a beet salad appetizer but not really any salad that would have broad appeal. We all felt like bread and salad would have made the meal feel more complete. We all came home still hungry. My husband LOVED his duck. Our daughters got cod (around 3-4oz) and bison steak (around 3-4oz). I think the bison was probably my fave. It was hard to get our waitress' attention even though there's only 4 or 5 tables downstairs. I asked her for a glass of champagne. 15 minutes went by and no champagne even though people around us had ordered and received their wine. I asked about it again. She had completely forgotten. She was very nice though. The bathrooms downstairs needed to be cleaned. The toilets in both bathrooms were DISGUSTING like hadn't been cleaned in months dirty. It was gross. I would NEVER let the toilets in my house get that dirty. It was like vacant abandoned house dirty. For an almost $300 meal, before tip, we definitely didn't feel we got $300 worth of food/drinks (we had 2 cocktails total) or that the meals themselves were worth $300. If we're going to spend that much I'd rather drive to Richmond and go to Ruth's Chris or Bookbinders. Would I go back? Yes, if someone else wanted to. Would I rush back? No. I'd probably go for drinks and the atmosphere but that's about it. read more

Tavern & Grocery - New England clam chowder - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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I came here with a group of 12 people for a bachelorette party on a Sunday morning. I wanted to make sure that we had a spot to eat so I reached out ahead of time and they were one of the few who were accommodating. They were communicative and helpful. Our group had great service the whole time as well! The food came out fast and orders were quickly taken. I ordered the duck hash and really enjoyed it. There was a lot of duck and it was seasoned well. It was a hearty dish so I only had partial and took the rest home. We got a side of fries and they were delicious! I recommend getting a side of it if you don't have it as a side order. Everyone enjoyed their orders as well. I would definitely recommend this place if you have a large group or you're just out in Charlottesville! read more

Service was lovely, but everything was boring. Maybe restaurant week wasn't the right time.

I recognize the earlier reviews that paint a poor picture of this place. I can see how those experiences could happen here - the restaurant tables were clearly understaffed. That said, we went and sat at the bar to have cocktails and light appetizers. The service from the bartender was perfect. Drinks were good. The interior is quaint and historic and generally offered a relaxed, "grown up" vibe. We truly enjoyed it. read more

I've found a new go-to brunch place! We managed to get a large group reservation for Saturday (there were several spots still open last minute--a rare find in cville). There was live music and everything went smoothly. They even split the check for us. The pork belly & grits was a unique dish and was topped with perfectly cooked poached eggs. I also tried a bite of the chicken & waffles and it was good too. Lastly, prices are much more reasonable for brunch compared to dinner. We'll be back! read more

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This place is so cute! Met a friend to have Brunch somewhere we had not been too and this little restaurant is a gem! We had the Eggs Benedict and Grits w/Pork Belly and of course the Mimosas made with Ruby Red Grapefruit (you can get it with OJ) I would definitely go back again...DELICIOUS! read more

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I am being very generous with my rating here because I have had more positive experiences here. BUT if this past Saturday was my first time dining at T&G , it would have been 1 and done. Our son graduated from UVA on Sat and we decided to go to a place we had eaten multiple times in the past. Our reservation was for 7:30. No one even acknowledged any of us standing in line for a good 20 mins. The food was fixed price at $85 each. Our meal was terrible. The apps took over an hour. My duck breast salad - the duck was so tough - like it had been sitting out. Our dinners were completely over cooked. I could barely cut through my chicken and the vegetable noodles were inedible. My husband said that he thought it was the most overdone chicken he ever had. My son could not eat half of the salmon because it was so over cooked. We were not the only ones. People, unless they had 8 bottles of wine open, were very annoyed. The slow service was appalling. I saw the women next to us showing the table her salmon which also was basically charred to no taste left. Because we were sitting there for 2 1/2 hours before we got our main course, I was not going to ask for any adjustments. We just wanted to get out of there. Such a disappointment for our last meal there. I would not go back. One side note, on Friday we went to another restaurant with the same price fixed. It was super busy. The food was fantastic. And we were out in just over an hour. It can be done. read more

We made reservations here during Cville's 2021 Restaurant Week and had an amazing Friday date night. We were seated downstairs, which has such a cozy, rustic vibe (see pictures with the mounted deer head and piano). We both ordered the Dreams of Melda cocktail, which was AMAZING. It definitely tasted more like a dessert-y cocktail, and I really enjoyed the egg white foam. From the Restaurant Week menu (see picture for options), we ordered: Appetizers: - Salmon Tartare with Salmon Roe, Crème Fraiche, Chives, and Herb Oil (9/10)- it was so delicious - Grilled Peaches and Burrata with Micro Mint (9/10)- also super delicious but definitely on the sweeter side Entrees - Seared Duck Breast with Blueberry Gastrique, Creamed Corn, and Local Sharondale Farms Mushrooms (10/10)- this was AMAZING! Melt in your mouth quality. All the flavors complimented each other so nicely - Local Grilled Bison with Broccoli Rabe, Roasted Fingerlings, Garlic Fondue, and Duck Hollandaise (8/10)- this was pretty good, kind of steak-like. I think I'm just not a huge bison meat fan Dessert - Bailey's Butterscotch Crème Brulee (11/10)- AMAZING. This was one of the best crème brulee's I've ever had. The food and drinks were delicious here! The service was friendly (a little slow but we'll chalk that up to Friday/ Restaurant Week busyness), and the ambiance was spot-on. We'll definitely be returning! read more

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Great dinner spot if you're looking for a nice dinner and be surrounded by cozy historic ambiance! We've been here twice for dinner - once for their regular menu and the other for restaurant week, and both times we left with happy (full) bellies. Tavern and Grocery's specialty is using local ingredients in their creative American cuisine, and they have a great wine list. Breakdown of what we've tried: 1) For their regular menu, I enjoyed the steak frites - the steak was well-seasoned and the French fries (thin and slightly crunchy the way I like it) came with a delicious garlic aioli sauce. For restaurant week: 2) The kale and burrata salad was fresh and dressed well with a balsamic reduction. 3) The ragu - meat was very tender, but the sauce left a little to be desired. 4) We ended the evening with bread pudding (perfect dessert for winter and comforting) and kumquat upside down cake (citrus-y and light). Though it is a little pricey, I definitely think it's worth it for good local cuisine! read more

Tavern & Grocery - Cozy ambiance for winter! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Terrible overpriced food - horrible service with a fake smile! We had a private party but were not informed it was a set price due to the size of our party and regardless what we ordered. We couldn't get a drink order after 45 minute and had to ask the waiter to take our order cause we had a hard stop - the server said he was busy serving our drinks ? Really? Food came out cold and when we said our soup was cold - the server (seems like one of the owners) argued it wasn't - I offered her to put her finger in it ! Place is dirty on top of all the above ! read more

Birthday Brunch Bust - The tight high-bar space next to purses, plants and poor views was coupled with okay service and inedible food. I would not recommend, I would not return. read more

DO NOT ORDER THE LOBSTER YOU ARE WASTING YOUR MONEY. I paid $40 for a couple pieces of lobster. I thought I was getting lobster based on the menu. I actually got a HEAPING of pasta and a few (emphasis is on a few) pieces of lobster. Was most of the food good? Absof*ckinglutely. Is the lobster actually lobster? Barely. Moral of the story -- good food... sure? Good service... and accommodating... yes. If you have patience and cash to spend, this is a place for you. Joseph (our server) is an angel btw... tip him well. "Lobster" pictured. read more

Tavern & Grocery - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

As a CEO of a productive company I understand time is money. In my case, time created annoyance. 50 minutes later and I am still waiting for my entrée. Two different waiters asked my for my meal. Who is my server!? The $34 wine (originally $10 in stores) is rather refreshing. The entree took far too long to be delivered to myself and my clients. The final product was, frankly, mediocre compared to the time it took to arrive. Side note: when you ask for a pound of salt in your bison, they give you a pound of salt. read more

Drinks were great. Salmon Tartare was good. Mushroom gnocchi was bland but okay. Duck was nasty. The duck had a ton of fat on it, it was wiggly, no flavor, I had to chew a tiny bite ten times and gave up and swallowed it like a pill. We didn't end up eating it after that. Our bill was way too expensive for the serving size and quality. Nothing special and truly disappointing food. The drinks were amazing. This place could be a bar and I would go back to that. The ambiance was cool, we loved the decor and old lounge vibe. The service was great, they were kind and helpful. Go here for drinks and maybe fries but nothing more. It's not worth the price. read more

Ouch. Yes it's one thing to wait over 2 hours for your dinner, be charged for the "free" drinks while waiting those two hours, but the real insult is the not-made-for-hospitality attitude and ultra-rude comments made to our group of 12 by the owner, Ashley Sieg. Defensive and snarky, 3 hours later we left to a sarcastic "buh-bye" from Ms.Sieg. Sad to say our recent UVA grads celebrated by learning how not to treat customers tonight. Food was a 6 but the aftertaste of that service will keep us from going back. read more

I was in Charlottesville for a business trip and we had a group of 10 for dinner. Our original reservation had to cancel because of a power outage so we had to find another spot. We called Tavern & Grocery and they were able to take us last minute. The food was great and the service was fine. I had the bison and Brussel Sprouts- AMAZING! drinks were good too. I recommend! read more

Great spot with downright bad food, especially for the price. Seated at a table for two with a wobbly chair that I swapped next to me. Waiter was prompt enough but smelled like an ashtray. Had baked clams that were tough as beef jerky for an app. Overcooked by a long shot. Wife had a lobster bisque that was fine, but not notable. Entrees were a fried flounder and a beef bulgogi. Bulgogi sauce was bland. Beef was a bit over cooked too. Flounder was armor plated and tremendously overcooked as well. Had a glass of wine and 2 cocktails, which were all fine, bill was $175 without tip. At half that price, I would have shrugged it off, but instead I'm writing this review. read more

My boyfriend and I stopped in for brunch, and we're both in agreement that we're not brunch people so we really need to stop trying brunch places. He hates breakfast foods, and I hate the lounging around waiting for hours while my day wastes away. Suffice it to say these people assume you're good at branching, which created a slow, calm atmosphere that stressed me the heck out as I watched my clock tick onward. (Moral of the story: don't bring your friends if they're bad at brunching). I will say we walked in without a reservation, they told us they were understaffed, and yet they still made a space for us outside on the patio to accommodate us. In all seriousness, I have only kind words for the wait staff at this restaurant. I had the slow scramble with a side of bacon. With the potatoes and the toast I was feeling pretty starchy so if I ever do come back again I'll likely see if I can opt to exchange the bacon for the potatoes. Personally, I'm a light on salt, heavy on pepper kind of person, and the eggs were too heavy on salt to the point where salt was the primary flavor. After tasting the other food on the table, I noticed this was sort of the theme of the plate, so I wasn't super blown away. I wish they would have used 1/8 the amount of salt and 2x the amount of pepper. The balance of flavors just felt a bit off. And while you can always add salt on the table, you can't really take it off. My boyfriend had the burger. His burger was over cooked (well done instead of medium) and they failed to heed his request to have no onions. For not really accommodating what he likes, we both agreed it was good, but also pretty heavy on salt. Because we don't brunch well-take our review with a grain of salt. Or don't if you're going to eat here because trust me--you'll have plenty of salt. read more

One of the fancier, higher-end restaurants in Charlottesville that's perfect for a date night or nice brunch out. The interior is beautiful: exposed brick, string lights, large wine display. Service was friendly and quick. We went for brunch and got the Brie omelette and chicken and waffles. Both were delicious and nicely presented, just on the smaller side despite the higher prices. Overall a very positive dining experience, just not the cheapest or largest portions. read more

Tavern & Grocery - chicken and waffle - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Very solid experience. The food was excellent and the server was very kind. Cocktails were a bit expensive but they were pretty good. Main complaint was the building itself -- it was a bit hot even indoors and there were some flies that were bothersome but it was easy to get over. Very cute look inside. Overall, definitely worth trying read more

I have mixed feelings about our experience this evening. We arrived 1.5 hours before our dinner reservation for the express purpose of having pre-dinner drinks in the Lost Saints. I'd called several days in advance to ask if reservations are needed for the LS and was told reservations are not taken and we should have no problem getting pre-dinner drinks. The nice hostess who greeted us this evening apologized and said the LS was already packed (10 minutes after opening) and that we could probably enter in another few minutes. While we waited, a party of 7-10 was admitted to LS because they called in advance! As we waited, someone who appeared to be a manager encouraged us to be seated at our dinner table early and have pre-dinner drinks at our table. We replied that, if drinks in the LS was not a possibility due to the crowd already there, we preferred to have drinks at the main floor bar before being seated at our reserved time for dinner. She then escorted us to 2 open seats at the bar. Within seconds, another couple arrived at the bar... they apparently knew the bartender and were served drinks immediately. Many minutes passed before the bartender acknowledged us and took our drink order. Nearly an hour passed before the bartender asked if we'd like a second round. We declined since it was almost time to be seated at our reserved dinner time. After being seated, many more minutes passed (12? 15?) before a server appeared to greet us and take our order. At this point we were both so frustrated by the slow service that we considered leaving. I'm glad we stayed because our meal was delicious. The beet salad with whipped cheese and the lobster bisque were both perfection: soup was creamy but not too rich; flavorful, and loaded with sweet corn and lobster bits. The bison tenderloin was wonderful. The food partially redeemed the overall experience; however, we don't have any desire to return. We would not recommend this restaurant to anyone wanting a special night out. The lackluster service left us feeling discouraged instead of pleased by a good meal out. read more

Yum!! I stopped by the tavern for a quick bite before heading over to a winery. I ordered the yogurt since I wanted something light. To be honest, I wasn't expecting much for a yogurt, but every bite was so delicious! The fruits were so fresh and the granola was so yummy. I couldn't stop eating! read more

Tavern & Grocery - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

This is the type of place you go to if you don't mind spending more to get fresh tasty food. We had a group of 9 for brunch and the staff was very accommodating with our party size and flexible with our reservation time. We all ordered cocktails- mimosas, bloody Mary's, wine, beer, etc. and the mixed drinks actually had alcohol- not at all watered down. The menu items are definitely on the pricey side, especially when you get your plate and see the portion size. The chicken and waffle (singular, not plural), was probably the tastiest, we wish we had more!!! The cholula butter was AHmazing. I had the duck hash, and for the price I paid I expected the poached egg to be perfectly cooked. However, the yolk was hard throughout (see photo) I actually asked for another. Luckily, though, I did not wait long and my re-do was perfect! I was honestly worried I'd let my food get cold waiting, but service was so prompt. Everyone was definitely super pleased with their meals. The only complaint is the lack of vegetarian options. Mostly all dishes came with meat and the kitchen had no substitute- we had asked for avocado, tomato, or mushroom. They were apparently out of all 3. So for those that omitted bacon from their eggs Benedict or croissant sandwich paid the full price without an alternative option. read more

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