Quality sit down spots are really hard to come by in Stadium Village, with fast casual dominating the landscape! Insert Beacon Public House, a true hidden gem and must-visit if you're in the neighborhood. While yes, it is inside of the now Graduate Hotel, it stands alone as a quality eatery regardless. Parking in this area is super tough, but it's right off the Light Rail station, so that might the most ideal plan. A few spots are available outside if you're lucky! The interior is well decorated with large booths spanning one wall and plenty of tables covering the rest. Mostly college student servers, but they've always been great when I've headed here for a bite! American food, well done and not pretentious, fills out the menu! On my most recent visit, I enjoyed the Short Rib Dip with Sweet Potato Tots! The large portion of meat and cheese were perfect for dipping in the accompanying au jus which also included caramelized onions stacked inside. The tots were crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside, which offered a lovely sweet/savory pop between bites of my sandwich. Can't wait to come back and try something new! read more

The Beacon Public House - Short Rib Dip - American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

The Beacon is a relatively standard hotel restaurant conveniently located inside the Graduate hotel on the U of M campus. There are a handful of breakfast offerings including eggs Benedict with a lemony hollandaise. Excellent service from Ella! I didn't have any issue with a wait on a weekday morning. Decor matches the rustic touches of the adjoining hotel. I did enjoy the big teal booths - comfortable and cute. read more

The Beacon Public House - Breakfast menu - American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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The Beacon is in The Graduate Hotel, so it's in a prime location at the University of Minnesota. I wish I could give this place 5 stars for how AMAZING our server was, but the food lacked. I ordered the Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich and it came on white bread. I wish it came on a bun instead because it was harder to eat and the bread was wayy too crispy with the combination of the super crispy chicken. The chicken tasted good but the batter was very thick. The fries were decent and I enjoyed that part atleast. The place was cute but I would not come again unless someone else made plans to come here. My parents felt the same way about the restaurant. read more

The Beacon Public House - Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich - American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Came here for brunch on Saturday morning. Got a booth right away. Service was flawless and the ambience is cozy. The menu was fine - but uninspired. Mostly just your standard go to breakfast items. Hubby and I both got the poblano omelet - it was solid and did the trick, but nothing to write home about. Great location in the Graduate hotel on campus. Wish I could give a 3.5. read more

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Really good food! Great local tap beer as well as a complete bar with lots of other beer and wine choices. Wonderful service by a SMART and hard working bar tender - Ava. Had a great chat! 10 TVs at the bar with every entertainment option available. On the first floor of the historic Graduate Hotel on the U of M campus. Check it out! read more

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Great atmosphere. Great food. I got the gochujang pork belly rice bowl and it was great.

I am actually pretty surprised how much I enjoyed my food here. Maybe its because I didn't have high hopes, but the chicken sandwich I had there were a spicy buttery goodness. Granted, I was there at 11:15 on a random Wednesday, but the food was spectacular. I got the Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich which kind of came out in a panini form. Those Minnesotans love their butter as it was full of that goodness! It also had the perfect amount of spice and another generous portion of fries. The only "downside" is that it is a smidgen expensive and it takes a bit of time to eat there (even with it being so empty). I guess that's par for the course in hotels like this. I liked everything so it wasn't that big of a deal for me. I really liked this hotel and this meal was a perfect ending to my trip. read more

Fun bar and restaurant inside the quirky Graduate Hotel, just off the Green Metro line. Through the main entrance, take a right and go all the way to the back, just past the shuffleboard table. Small but good selection of local and national draft beers. Basic selection of liquor with a few specialty mixed drinks. I ordered the Camper's Walleye dinner. Coated in Ritz cracker crumbs and served atop a wild rice and vegetables pilaf with spears of asparagus, the fish was delicious, and didn't really need the tartar sauce (fortunately served on the side). Eclectic crowd at the bar on my weeknight visit included undergrads, grad students, business people and a pilot from Iceland Air. Kitchen closes at 9 on weeknights, but bar stayed open for an hour later. read more

The Beacon Public House - Walleye dinner - American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Wow, I'm not a fan. But first, a couple of caveats: 1. It was Christmas Eve-Eve, ie 12/23, the night before the night before Christmas 2. There had been a crazy storm and many businesses had closed early That said, my husband and I chose to stay at this hotel instead of driving north precisely because it was open and had a "good" restaurant that didn't require going outside. I was disappointed on so many levels this evening. First, I know it was cold outside, but it was also cold in the restaurant! People were wearing their coats indoors. In MN, I expect to be cozy and warm by a fire when it's freezing out. Not here! Second, the food was, at best, mediocre. We were starving and in the wrong time zone, and still left food on the table. "Wild rice" pilaf had an almost indistinguishable amount of wild rice. I love walleye more than any fish, but it somehow was still flavorless, even with some salt and/or tartar sauce. Then, when I ordered a 9-oz glass of wine and was brought a 6-oz, I took it took it to the bar and, surprisingly, was challenged. The bartender poured a 6-oz water and a 9-oz water, and when it was obvious that my wine was exactly even with the 6-oz, the bartender got blustery and told me I might've taken a "sip." Uh huh, a 3-oz sip? Nope. Sometimes the better part of valor is...admitting that o you make a mistake. I tried to give the establishment grace given the circumstances, and wanted to be happy/merry, but I couldn't be any better than this review. read more

Spot in the heart of the college that was great for dinner. Pork medallions were a hit. Salsa and chips added fare to the meal. Service from Delaney was superb. The evening ambiance was nice in that everything was neutral and not too crowded. Wouldn't mind eating and stopping here again. read more

Full disclosure: I didn't eat here, that was part of the problem! We were exploring the U of M family and stopped in for lunch. They don't have a kids menu but the hostess checked with the kitchen and they said they could make chicken tenders and fries for our kids, which was very nice (although a hotel restaurant should probably have a kids menu). We got seated, it wasn't busy, but after 20 min of sitting there with several waiters walking past us but not even acknowledging us or bringing us water we just got up and left. Not sure if this is typical of the service here or not but wanted to share our experience. read more

Ate Friday night here while staying at The Graduate . Delaney was our server and she was absolutely amazing. Great attitude and very helpful. Loved the decor and music in the restaurant too. I ordered the pork belly at the recommendation of Delaney and it was too notch. It is on the small plates but it filled me up completely . Soft tender with some spice to it. My wife got the fish and chips and Delaney was kind to get it pan fried without the batter for my wife. Only complaint was that it was chips with fish because it was three small pieces of fish. Needed to be at least one more piece of fish. So, service and pork belly - 5 stars. Decor and atmosphere 4 stars and fish and chips - 3 stars for a average of 4 stars read more

The Beacon Public House - Fish & Chips - American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Met a long-time friend from out of state who I hadn't seen for years who was staying at the Graduate Hotel for a conference. This restaurant within the hotel was not only convenient but perfect place to catch up since we haven't seen each other for years! We each ordered the soup of the day, and then shared the flatbread and the tacos. The food was good, and it was nice and quiet atmosphere, perfect place to catch up since it's been years. The waitress was nice and she took our pictures for us. Thank you. read more

wonderfully accommodating to our group of 10. Private room which made our gathering so much more intimate and delightful. Our waiter, too, was extremely attentive. And the food was great. Couldn't have been a better choice to celebrate before the Gopher Women's Basketball game v the Hawkeyes. plus....it was my birthday! read more

The ambiance is cool. There's plenty of seating. It's conveniently located. But the food is middling at best. I was staying at the Graduate Hotel for a conference and this restaurant is on the first floor. We ate their dinner once and then never again. The walleye was especially bad. Even the salad left much to be desired. They have a pool table and a giant Connect Four to play which is entertaining. But the walls in the pool table area were too close to the table which made it nearly impossible to shoot from certain angles. And the cue tips on the sticks are in desperate need of replacement. The most egregious issue though is that I asked the bartender for cherries for my drink. After handling the cash register, he used his ungloved and unwashed hand and reached into the jar of maraschinos. He fished around in the juice and pulled out a handful of cherries. I was so shocked! It just made me entirely skeptical of what other questionable hygiene practices they're allowing! read more

The Good The food was fine. We came for breakfast. Small menu makes for quick choices. We had a breakfast burrito and a breakfast San which with hashbrowns. Both were good. Food was fast. The Bad No host at host stand and no indication on whether to seat yourself or not. Another patron actual went to find the waitress and couldn't find her. When she came out, no real greeting (hello or good morning). Just table for 2? And sat us. Did not ever inquire if we wanted coffee or anything else to drink at 7 am. Did put water on table. Once food was delivered, never came back to check on us. Wanted ketchup for our hashbrowns so we went and found it ourselves. Meh. read more

The Beacon Public House - Breakfast with the kid - American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Very impressed. I was attending an event at the Alumni center last Saturday night and wanted to enjoy a glass of wine with a friend prior to going next door. We sat at a bar high top and then a host came over and asked if maybe we wanted to move to a couch seating area.ok with us. We returned later after the event for a beverage with people who were staying at the hotel and they also had good things to say about their stay. read more

The Beacon Public House - Comfy couch spot - American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Went to Beacon Public house before a show. Restaurant is in the Graduate hotel. Location is perfect and tons of parking near by. I had carnitas quesadilla. Nothing to write home about. Just ok. Came with sour cream and salsa, was hoping for pico and shredded lettuce, which I kind of expect with quesadillas. My friend had the Beacon house burger. She asked for medium, definitely was well done. Nothing fancy about it. Pretty basic. Fun and lively atmosphere and in a cool area. I didn't take photos as there wasn't much to show. read more

The food is a 4 the service is a 2. We had to ask our waitress for everything: silverware, ketchup, coffee, sugar, coffee, refill, water. She was awful and was more interested in chatting with the other waitress. read more

This restaurant was inside our hotel and we're so lucky that was it! It's a great place for brunch or to hang out after a night of debauchery! It's really a place for everyone! :-D The restaurant is very hipster chic, drinks were good and service was well "hipster service" (very laid back, i.e slow) lol but friendly non the less. They have FOUR different types of fries, the herbs were the most popular and my favorite. For girls (or guys) who likes sweeter drinks I'd recommend the Romeo or Juliet. I forgot what the husbands got (Whiskey, Rum?) but it was very strong. read more

The Beacon Public House - Herb fries and chips - American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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We really enjoyed this place in The Commons Hotel (loved the hotel as well). I can't imagine anyone going to Applebees (which is connected to the hotel) when you have this one-of-a-kind gem! Drinks in the bar...nice! Breakfast...awesome! We were seated in a very comfy booth and had an excellent Server. I can never eat a full order of eggs benedict, so I was thrilled when they told me I could get a half order, even happier when they said I could have spinach added, and extra happy with hashbrowns instead of country potatoes. Husband is not the biggest breakfast-lover, but he sure loved his perfectly cooked scrambled eggs, bacon, toast and hashbrowns. Nice coffee for him and nice tea for me, and we were happy folks! read more

The Beacon Public House - Scrambled Eggs with Hashbrowns and bacon - American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Located in between Applebee's restaurant and the Graduate hotel, The Beacon Public House is a fun spot to catch a game, enjoy some drinks and solid food, or play pool or shuffleboard. The atmosphere here is great. You're likely to find some students or faculty from the University, or those visiting the University. It's not obvious that this restaurant is here (to the outside viewer). It's unobtrusive without major signage. We stopped in only because Applebee's had an unusual wait (though half the restaurant was empty). I'm so glad we did. The Beacon isn't a chain. You'll find novel touches, from the water bottles, to the decor, and the menu selections. We were here late, and so opted primarily for drinks (truly distinctive cocktails and craft beers) and appetizers. The Ellsworth cheese curds with curry ketchup and the ale battered onion rings with a sriracha aeoli were both spot-on. They both had a delicious, light batter and tasted fantastic. The price was decent, too. Our waitress was friendly and responsive. The menu had everything from an elk chop to moussaka - very creative. It would be fun to return for a full meal. I would definitely come back. read more

The Beacon Public House - Pool tables and Shuffleboard. - American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

We stopped in for breakfast on MLK day. I love that we sat down to a bottle of water at the table. I had a hot cup of coffee in my hand before I even had time to think about it and the Eggs Benedict was fantastic. Our server, Ella, was super friendly and attentive - we felt so welcome and cared for! I'll be back for sure! read more

Great stop for a date night! Had the steak and it was really good. The herbed peppercorn butter made it pop for sure.

Went there after NCAA DI finals one evening. Staff was friendly. Server was very upfront about the kitchen closing in 20 minutes, so we should focus on the menu. Food and drinks are reasonably priced. Food is excellent. We have been to the Graduate in Knoxville. This restaurant is far better with food options and pricing. We definitely would come back again! read more

Wow, I really love this place. I remember the old bar at the University Radisson, and it was such a snoozefest. Uninspired drinks, slow and snotty staff, and way overpriced. My partner had gone to Beacon for a happy hour, and kept raving about it, so I figured I'd give it a shot, and am I ever glad that I did! The decor is nice - think reclaimed wood, high boothbacks in subdued but vibrant colors (yellow, aqua, teal, etc.), unique lighting that included dozens of candles and lights hanged at different lengths, and a nice mix of high top tables and booths. I also really loved the televisions. Whaaaat? Some of them had news, but others just had pretty things, like fields of swaying wheat, sunsets, beaches, etc. It was a really nice mix. The happy hour menu is great - we got a bucket of cheese curds for $3, and there were many other options on the menu that I look forward to exploring. HH drinks are pretty cheap, too - it's a 3,4,5 menu. $3 for most beers, $4 for a heavy poured glass of wine, and $5 for either a mule (vodka, ginger, and freaking awesomeness) or a dark and stormy. Service here was good, too. Our server seemed to be working quite a few tables, but she didn't leave our glasses dry at all. This place is really convenient to the U of M - it's right on the East Bank campus, and will be really nice when the light rail comes through. In fact, having a light rail stop right in front of this bar should make it a really desirable spot. This is also why I removed one star from what could be a five-star experience. Although it IS convenient to the U of M and will be great once the train stops nearby, if you're heading over in your own car, parking is going to suck, and you're going to have to pay for it. Beacon is great for HH, and I look forward to sampling more of their menu. PS - here's my tip! When they say that the cheese curds are "State Fair quality," which many places do, Beacon really does mean it. They're good quality curds, and taste like State Fair curds without the long lines! read more

The Beacon Public House - American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I had a really nice time eating at this restaurant during my stay at the Commons Hotel. The host was very pleasant. Seating was nice and not too close together or crowded. Prices reasonable for a hotel restaurant. We went to the bar one night too and they were great. Very attentive, professional. Fun place to sit and have a drink We had steak, sauteed kale, beet salad, smoked salmon, caesar salad with salmon and mussels. The mussels were the low point. Small, few, greasy.......all for 18$, not worth it. Everything else was great including the pre-meal bread and butter! Delicious! Service was extremely pleasant yet a bit painfully slow. Whe wines and beers were great- yet not particularly good pours but still good quality. Overall, I'd happily come back when staying at the hotel. Try it out! They do take reservations. read more

I've had dinner at Beacon House two nights in a row and breakfast in the morning. Because of the past reviews and overall rating, I was almost hesitant to eat here. Boy am I glad I decided to give it a shot. I only had the biscuits and soup the first night, but it was enough to break the ice. I had the steak and eggs the next morning which was nothing special by itself. The chimichuri (sp?) sauce was what really turned it up a notch. Dinner that night was amazing. Our table shared popcorn shrimp, cheese curds, and Mac and cheese. The popcorn shrimp had a fresh, light batter and the Mac and Cheese with Chorizo was rich in flavor. The Beacon Burger was also very good. I opted for the truffle fries instead of house chips. It was a great sub and the horseradish ketchup added a good kick to my meal. Shoutout to the great service staff. Alex and Lucy were great. I would call out the young lady the second night, but she didn't have a name on her blank tag. I pointed out her nameless tag, but she never gave up her true identity. I shall forever refer to her as Harriet. Not that she looks like a Harriet, but because I'm watching Family Matters right now in my hotel room. read more

We ended up giving this place a try because we got a small deal for staying at The Graduate hotel. This restaurant theme matches the hotel with an old fashioned, rustic feel to it. We went for brunch which had a nice, diverse menu that wasn't too overwhelming. I ordered the the breakfast tostada and my husband ordered the steak and eggs. The breakfast tostada was just ok. It was basically a salad sitting over 2 crispy tortilla shells, but be careful because the grill jalapeno has a real kick! I ended up having some of the steak from my husband's dish so I could have some protein. Overall, the food was ok. Service was great, and we went during an event the hotel was hosting we had a mini breakfast and show. Despite all the happenings of the morning, the service was great and super friendly! That being said, although the food and service was great, it didn't stand out for me. I probably wouldn't make a special trip to Minneapolis for this place, but it's definitely a good sit-down place to stop for a nice brunch/dinner if you're in the area. read more

Recently, my daughter and I wanted dinner after a performance at newly remodeled Northrop (which BTW is fantastic!!). We wandered into Beacon House and were glad we did. It's a large, uncluttered, attractive space. I started with a well prepared wedge salad followed by an order of Mussels and Fries. The mussels were delicious, ample in number and swam in an aromatic, savory broth. Fries were crisp and thin, nicely (not overly) salted. My daughter had the pan roasted Salmon and pronounced it excellent. Prices for a hotel restaurant are quite reasonable. Service was very good. I'll definitely keep this place in mind for future U of M post-theater dining. read more

We were guests at The Commons so decided to treat ourselves to breakfast. My husband played it safe with eggs and bacon and I overhead a waitress mention some amazing French toast that wasn't on the menu. One order right here! I also added some of the Applewood bacon. The french toast was very good. At first. Maybe because I was starving and you know when you're starving the first bite is always amazing. But after a few bites (ok, probably after two pieces) I started to slow down and get to know the food. It's good, don't get me wrong, but a half order would have been better. Why? It's so rich! It's like eating cake for breakfast. The whole entree comes with figs or something or other but I opted for just the toast, which included some toasted onion. Hmmm. I'm not so sure the burnt onion and super sweet syrup and cakey toast all really mesh. Well, for me they didn't (although it didn't stop me from polishing off the entire dish). Next time I'll go ahead and get it all together, maybe ask for a half order and even see if they can leave the onions out altogether (although Id like to give the chef a chance and see if it's just because I omitted the garnish) or put them on the side. A half order, with eggs and bacon and nonstop coffee...perfection! The service was also very good, although the waiter said he had yet to try the french toast because he's a college student and can't afford to eat there. Poor kid! I'd suggest the restaurant encourage and support some tastings so the staff know how to respond to guests properly. I want my waiter to gush about everything and give me good recommendations, not make me feel guilty for porking out on expensive food while he works for pennies. We also had the option of adding our meal to our room bill, which is very handy. Overall, good place, nice decor, convenient for guests, great hours (I think 24 hours but don't quote me on that), great service and food. read more

The Beacon Public House - American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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I came here for lunch with a colleague for a meeting, and was pleasently surprised with the menu options and nice plating with my order. I ordered the 1/2 and 1/2-with the buffalo chicken Mac n cheese and the french fries. Our waitress was quick to help us order but also recognized that we were meeting over lunch so she would check on us every so often if we need anything. The food was just fine, I wished the Mac n cheese wasn't as bland - the buffalo chicken had most of the flavor in the dish. The fries were solid-nice and crispy and a good amount for a side dish. My review would have been a 3 star if it wasn't for the service-i hope others have the same experience that I do! read more

stay at the Graduate now every time I come... I have never had a bad meal here the service is great and there's a lot of variety.

Super expensive for average drinks and food. Nothing special about either the drinks or food to balance the price of the food. The portion sizes were ok. There wasn't anything too exceptional to write about unfortunately. It was open on Christmas, so I guess that is good. It's attached to a hotel and there were a couple of lingering men near the women's bathroom when I went in which was a little unnerving to me. The server seemed to forget about us at one point too. Hence, the 2 stars which may be generous. There were 4 of us for lunch and it was about $100. read more

The Beacon Public House - Nice interior - American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

The bartender Pete deserves a HUGE shoutout! He was the only bartender on staff during a Badger/Gopher hockey game night. Customers were 10 deep and he kept his cool and was slinging drinks like a mad man. He was very personable. I'm sure customers were getting frustrated but he kept his cool. Way to go Pete!! read more

Had a Sunday breakfast here on Father's Day - simply because most everything else was booked & my friend and I weren't out with our dads. Actually, for a short while we had the place to ourselves. I gave it a 4 because there was nothing to complain about. It wasn't in any way disappointing, but it also wasn't anything outstanding. The atmosphere is trendy with all the shiplap, and the service was great. However, with us being the only ones in the place, it had better be. I had the Salmon Mimosa - smoked salmon, cream cheese, capers, hard boiled egg, tomatoes and onion served with a bagel. I also had a traditional mimosa drink. Everything was perfectly adequate. It's probably not someplace I would go again, but for the day and time it absolutely served its purpose. read more

For a hotel bar, the beacon has a really nice atmosphere. And a good happy hour. Seems like they price things such that students and people who would otherwise not be cool with buying a $13 cocktail will probably stay away unless its a special occasion. There are large TVs throughout, but it they somehow didn't really detract from the ambience and it was quiet enough to have good conversations around 4pm on a Friday. I had a dark and stormy ($6 during HH) and shared the rosemary pepper fries and cheese curds with my table. The drink's presentation pleasantly surprised me, as did the lightness of the cheese curd batter. I wasn't a huge fan of any of the ambitious dipping sauces (I think one was curry ketchup), but neither appetizer really seemed to need it. Service was pleasant and helpful. read more

I stopped in to the Beacon for breakfast, as I was attending a conference in the The Commons hotel. The server was very friendly and the place looked really nice. The latte was pretty good. The food was just mediocre. The bacon was over cooked, and the potatoes were just bland. Meh is the best word I can use to describe it. My biggest complaint: the lights above the tables felt like a spotlight. It was very uncomfortable. I felt like I was getting interrogated. Perhaps it would be a nice place to go for a drink in the evening, and sit at the bar. I am giving 2 stars, because the place looks cool, has very friendly staff, however the breakfast was just ok and the lighting is uncomfortable. read more

My experience at Beacon was really really nice. And really really unexpected. I probably have an unfounded typical dislike for hotel restaurants but Beacon exceeded my (probably biased) expectations! Initial thoughts upon walking in were that this restaurant is really well-designed. The reclaimed wood everywhere is a gorgeous trend that I love to see restaurants picking up. There is one wall where there are books and candles above the booths that I thought was breathtaking. The bathrooms are also very clean looking with the white subway tile everywhere. The décor is very current and welcoming. Almost home-y in a modern sort of way. I like it. A lot. We ordered drinks and everyone was pretty satisfied with their selection. There was one fruity/creamy drink that tasted and smelled awful and they were very accommodating in giving us another choice right away. The table ordered a bunch of appetizers to split. My favorites were: *The Mac & Cheese - the chorizo is a TASTY addition *The honey wings - the lime sauce is a really interesting flavor *Beef tenderloin - cooked yourself over an open flame The desserts were either awesome or well, not so much. Highlights: *Mixed berry cobbler thing *Sea Salt Apple Tart (OMG, this tasted like Cinnamon Toast Crunch in the best possible way) Forget about: *Flourless chocolate cake *Pineapple gelato. The texture wasn't right If this was in downtown, this place would be a hit. It's a little "off the beaten path" if you're not a student or someone staying in the hotel, which I think accounted for the rather empty dining room. A solid 3.5 stars, though. read more

This is one of the best hotel restaurants anywhere, and I travel a great deal. The service was outstanding and everything my wife and I ate was delicious. We particularly love the lobster gnocchi with mushrooms. Sooo good! read more