A cozy yet classy restaurant in Livermore with inviting front and back patios. Servers are lovely and friendly. We ordered three small plates : whipped feta, cumin lamb mintu, and smoked Duroc pork belly. The cocktail was really good. We liked the whipped feta with warm bread a lot. We felt neutral about the lamb dumplings but pretty sad about the Duroc pork belly. The pork belly arrived last. The plate came with six tiny pieces of pork belly which looked very dry, burnt and shrunk. It was pretty hard to chew especially the crust. I didn't find it enjoyable in any way. I asked our server if it was supposed to be this way. And she said yes, crispy outside and juicy inside. Since it was burnt and overcooked, there was nothing soft or pleasant in the inside part left to chew either. I felt it had no flavor. For $ 22 plus tax and tip, we hoped to enjoy it better than what we received. We were not offered any remedy to the dish and felt a little awkward after we brought it up to our server. Overall it could have been a very nice meal if it was not for the pork belly dish. read more

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The Black Cat completely exceeded our expectations. The cocktails were exactly what you picture when you think "craft", inventive, high quality, and perfectly balanced. Every drink felt thoughtfully made rather than rushed. Service was excellent across the board. Every staff member we interacted with was friendly and knowledgeable, which already set a great tone for the night. But Kana absolutely made the experience unforgettable. We found out she's been involved in creating many of the cocktails, and wow, her passion and talent really shine through. She was incredibly knowledgeable, genuinely personable, and went above and beyond by crafting a custom drink based on the flavors we mentioned. It ended up being one of the best cocktails we've had anywhere. We've officially found our new favorite date night spot. The vibe is intimate, cozy, stylish, and perfect for an evening out. Highly recommend The Black Cat to anyone who appreciates exceptional cocktails and great service. read more

Really loved this place. I've been twice now, and we've had great cocktails both times. The first time I came, I was with a group of girls and we had a couple cocktails and an appetizer. It was great. This last time I went was with my hubby for our anniversary. Our server was absolutely wonderful. Very attentive and communicative about the changing over from food service to late night. The espresso martini is amazing, and we are both picky. We don't like them super creamy, and they have an excellent, espresso forward martini here. Other cocktails have also been great! We also had the Kate night musubi flight, and we loved it! Great, very different late night snack before going home. We will be back! read more

I love the vibes at The Black Cat! In the evening it's moody, cozy, and perfect for a date night or catching up with friends. They have unique craft cocktails and the servers are friendly and knowledgeable on the drinks. They also serve some food and natural wines! I highly recommend making a reservation. I've tried to walk in on a weekend evening and they were booked out. After 9pm it's open seating though so you can just walk in. They also have an outdoor patio. They have events throughout the year and it's a nice addition to the Livermore community! Side note, the bathroom is very cute. Favorite bar bathroom I've been in. The photobooth is a nice touch but it's so close up the camera literally only got our faces zoomed in ($7). read more

The Black Cat - Wine Bars Near Me - Livermore, California

Still super wonderful! The new asparagus dish is to DIE for. Also the goldfish cocktail is amazing! Kana makes the most amazing drinks and can craft anything your heart desires! She is truly a sorcereress!! read more

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loved the Photo Booth! The back patio was fun and spacious, I got the London fog and it was sweet but strong! It was a great time to meet up with friends. Super quick service too. I loved the cat details everywhere, super cute read more

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The Black Cat is a great spot to grab late night drinks for a night out in DT Livermore!! When I was looking for bars, they stood out bc their drinks sounded super good and unique. I liked the vibe the restaurant seemed to have too! I definitely recommend making reservations if you plan on visiting, especially over the weekend. I came on a Friday night and the place was packed. They have an outdoor patio which is nice if you have a larger group, and indoor tables if you're looking for a more intimate vibe. I tried the Yuja Sun and the Siamese Sake Sour - both were great! Definitely on the sweeter side if you're into sweet drinks. I'm always a sucker for drinks that have egg whites in them lol so the siamese sake sour was my favorite of the two. The small plates are on the pricier end, and I don't think they're as worth it for the value unfortunately. But, service was friendly and everything we got came out quickly! read more

The Black Cat - Wine Bars Near Me - Livermore, California

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Update: I was there last night a little after 9 and they do go from seating to opening seating. You order your drinks at the bar and find somewhere to hang out. It does get a little hectic for my liking around that hour so I decided to come another time. read more

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I can't wait to come back!! The vibe, the drinks, the staff - it was all FANTASTIC! We ordered a Yuja Sun, which tasted just like honey citron tea! You could barely taste the alcohol and was just so refreshing and yummy. We also ordered the Black Cat (I had to), and wow it's strong. It's a black sesame espresso martini essentially and oh MY GOD. I think I'm just too weak for espresso martinis in general, so it's not their fault at all. Because I don't usually drink espressos straight or drink straight liquor or martinis.... So would not recommend for those who prefer sweeter alcoholic drinks. As for the space, it's so warm and intimate. It's so cool how you can just sit anywhere, in the back patio or inside - a perfect date night spot. Even with the Photo Booth, I loved how the pictures came out! read more

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Drinks were unique and incredible. Food was stellar!! Service was excellent. AC was not working when we went so it was a little uncomfortable but did not detract from our experience. The food and drinks were more than enough to earn 5 stars. We will be back for sure!!! read more

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We were waiting to be seated for dinner at a nearby restaurant and decided to grab a cocktail here. The staff were extremely friendly, helpful, and appropriately attentive. The cocktails were delicious and adequately strong. We will definitely return and see what's on their specialty cocktail menu in the next season. read more

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I recently visited The Black Cat in downtown Livermore with one of my daughters. It's an intimate lounge that serves craft cocktails and small plate appetizers. I had the chaitini, which is a chai martini, and it was delicious. We shared the arancini and they were the best I've ever had. There's a fun old school photo booth in the back corner and a patio out back that is not open during the winter months. With limited seating indoors, reservations are highly recommended. We took a chance without reservations right when they opened at 5PM and we were seated at the bar, which is actually one of my favorite places to sit. My experience has almost always been that I get the best service at the bar and I was not disappointed. read more

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A hidden gem in downtown Livermore! I didn't realize this place would be so popular; on a Friday night if you're trying to come in for more than just drinks you're probably going to need a reservation. Haven't tried the food yet but the menu looks so appetizing I would definitely come back. In fact, ever since getting back to Livermore 2 weeks ago, I've already been here twice. The cocktails are fantastic and the natural wine flight was excellent as well. There's plenty of seating in the back and a cute little digital photo booth in the main area. Staff is nice and accommodating; they managed to fit my boyfriend and I in between reservations because we said we just wanted drinks. Can't recommend their cocktails enough, honestly one of the nicest drinking establishments in the Tri-Valley. read more

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Was our first time at this local favorite and at first everything was really amazing! Came out to support a few friends performing and was having a good time. My friend did run into a problem with a bartender being rude, but I wasn't there for that and supposedly my boyfriend too, but again I wasn't there for that. After the performance, we went back in and lined up at the bar and this is when it got kind of weird. Our bartender seemed to be wasted and was sort of rude. According to my friend and boyfriend, this was the same bartender who was rude to them. We tried to order a few shots, but they didn't have it which is ok. That happens, but it's when we tried asking about another shot (didn't have this liquor either) she proceeds to tell us it's a "fancy shmancy uppity bar". We end up ordering Tito's and some cocktails and she starts our drinks. We pay and are genuinely curious as to how much this shot is priced at. We ask a different bartender who is right in front of us if she knew the price of the shot. Her immediate reply is "Sorry I don't take orders from people who yell at me." We were very confused as we asked a question and didn't yell. We ask again and she begrudgingly answers. We don't expect friendliness, but there's no need to be rude to us. We were pretty disappointed in the end because it started off great. read more

I love that Livermore is adding new restaurants to their acute downtown. We dropped by one evening for some appetizers and a couple of cocktails, and we were not disappointed. The drinks were good, and the food was light and tasty. A martini which was pretty unique made, and went really well with the poke tostada. Our server was adorable Go support the small businesses! read more

The Black Cat - Poke tostada - Wine Bars Near Me - Livermore, California

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We enjoyed strolling through Downtown Livermore on a Saturday night amidst Christmas buskers entertaining by the tree, the festive holiday decorations and genuinely jolly individuals seeking a place for dinner and drinks. We stumbled upon The Black Cat which was adjacent to the absolutely mobbed Fat Pidgeon Miracle Bar, spilling over with ugly sweatered guests waiting to get in... The Black Cat was an instant welcoming respite, decorated with just enough holiday lights and festive touches amidst its intimate, dark and cozy interior. We were greeted warmly and genuinely by the hostess, opting to wait a few minutes at the bar as she assured us tables were becoming readily available. I didn't catch any names last night but everyone from the hostess, our ugly sweatered server, bar and wait staff, as well as the chef who stopped by our table to describe the Ethiopian spices specially created for the Hummus Toast. I cannot say enough about what a wonderful experience it was to have knowledgeable and graciously attentive staff. Service was another level. The cocktails were wonderfully handcrafted and refreshing albeit smaller portioned in smaller dainty glasses. The London Fog was very subtle. I was able to try the last available portion of the Marrow Old Fashioned which was very original and unique. The signature Black Cat was a treat without being too sweet. The Natural Wine Flight was something new for us but we enjoyed the local Livermore McGrail Cab Sauv best throughout the evening. The small plates were indeed small but immensely flavorful as freshly prepared in the open kitchen. Our favorite was the Hummus Toast with bread by the nearby bakery infused with the Ethiopian spices house made and enthusiastically described by the chef himself! The Whipped Feta was a festive treat with the pomegranate and thyme nicely complimenting the creamy feta on fresh pita. The A5 Wagyu was beautiful and amazingly delicious but be forewarned that "2 oz" means 4 delicately petite pieces... but, be prepared for a treat! What a wonderful experience at The Black Cat. I recommend sitting at the back by the photo booth in the 2 cozy armchairs near the bustle of the open kitchen and enjoying drinks watching a slice of the evening go by... read more

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Okay, I'll be honest, I booked a reservation here because I got this restaurant confused with The Bourbon Pear. The thing is, I had the best time here! The low intervention wines left me feeling great and I was obsessed with the Albariño. My girlfriend and I split a few apps, they had Wingen sourdough which is my favorite bread, and a selection of yummy butters to choose from. The whipped feta had the fluffiest pita and I have been thinking about it for weeks. WEEKS! read more

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Livermore has a lot of places popping up all over the place but The Black Cat is my favorite. It's a true craft bar (IMHO) and the food is really really well thought out and delicious. If you're in the mood for a sophisticated moody place for a cocktail with a really cool vibe this should be your next stop. read more

Really enjoyed the ambience and the feel of the place. Server was great and was really cool to see the open kitchen concept. The A5 Wagyu & Summer Peaches were probably one of the best bites I've had in a long time. The Bone Marrow Old Fashioned & Black Cat were cool cocktails to try out as well, they could have been slightly sweeter though. Cool wine variety as well. The downsides are a few. I think the portions, specifically the A5 Wagyu & the cocktails are small which is fine but I wish that was more transparent. The others are that there could have been more food & meat options, a spirits list, and bigger hightop tables. Would recommend this place to a person who likes small bites, botanical drinks, and cool contemporary wine. That's not necessarily a fit for me but still a cool place to check out. 8.5/10, one of the better places we've dined at. read more

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Finally visited The Black Cat, and I'm glad I did! Perfect place for a couples date night, there's even a Photo Booth, which is always fun. Went in early on Thursday, so it wasn't too busy. We chose a variety of plates, which was perfect for sharing between 4 of us, allowing us all a few bites of each item. You really can't go wrong with the food menu. It's a bit pricy, but the freshness, quality and flavor combinations are unmatched. We ordered the Whipped Feta & Pita, the Summer Peaches dish, The Yellowtail, the Heirloom Tomato Toast, and the Wingen Sourdough with cheese & butter. Each bite had me wanting more. Even the house-made butter impressed me. Cocktails also on the pricier side, but unique and well-crafted. Shout out to our server Jacob! Thanks for making our dining experience so wonderful. Good food is great, but good service makes a place memorable. He explained everything to us, was very kind, present, accommodating, and went above and beyond to make us feel special. We will definitely be back! read more

Us cat people wanted to check out the new restaurant/bar The Black Cat. Wonderful addition to the downtown Livermore scene. They are still working out some menu kinks since they added Sunday to their opening hours so be patient as they adjust. Reservations recommended. The London Fog is their spin on a Negroni, delightful. In Full Bloom is the perfect summer drink. We had to order The Cat's Meow since proceeds go to local cat foundations. This is a rich cocktail that would've gone perfect with the vegan chocolate mousse. The Coco Marg is less like a margarita and more like a Calpico. Japanese. Sweet. Potato!!!!!! So good! You must order this. The radish and butter was great, the pita bread from the whipped feta went well with the herb butter. That butter would've gone well with most things though haha. The whipped feta was good! Some tomatoes would've been a welcome touch to this dish but it was super tasty with the warm pita bread! The vegan chocolate mousse was delicious with the sprinkle of salt on top. Such a lovely dessert! Service was impeccable. We are excited to return to support this new spot :) read more

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4 stars for the service 3.5 for the drinks/meal I know they just did a soft open and I am sure it will be better overtime. The staff was so incredibly friendly and I always appreciate that. There have been a few new spots in Livermore that the attitudes have been meh, so thank you Black Cat! Ambiance: the decor and setting is so vibey and calm and I love that! Towards the back there is a vintage photo booth, course you know we had to use it! Think it was $6 for the pics. Drinks: Coco marg: makes you want to be in a tropical island! Espolon blanco Full bloom: balanced , botanist gin, notes of orange Food: keep in mind it is a cold kitchen Summer peaches: should come with some pita or bread, asked for bread, was a $6 upcharge which we didn't know about . The creaminess with the thai basil reminded me of a caprese but not. It would be better if the peaches were glazed or maybe roasted a little? Feel like would help on the depth of flavors. Otherwise light clean and great for warm weather Halibut crudo: ok the sauce is everything and to die for , would definitely get this again!! We really enjoyed ourselves and look forward to coming back! Thank you to one of the owners for coming by and giving us a tour!! read more

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I finally got to try The Black Cat in downtown Livermore last Sunday and wow... it completely blew me away I can't stop thinking about it! From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere felt special--cozy and intimate, but still stylish enough to make the night feel like a treat. started off with one of their cocktails, and it honestly might be one of the best I've had in town. You can tell a lot of thought goes into the drinks--they're creative without being over the top. The food was just as impressive. Every plate that came out had that same balance of creativity and flavor. This is such a rare gem and I'm so happy my husband and I found this place!! read more

This is a new top 3 favorite restaurant for me in tri valley area! Every item from food to cocktails to wine deliberately strives for excellence and gets pretty close. The atmosphere is best described is hipster/speakeasy/scrappy. The place is tiny but full of style and character. I tried almost every item on the menu and all were excellent for what they were aiming for. If you're going out to eat something specific because that's what you like then this is not the place for you. The restaurant is small and the menu is small to match. However, if you're going out to explore and open to having a good time then this place will not disappoint. The staff are friendly and clearly happy working there. Cocktails are unique and well crafted. I consider myself a foodie. If you do too then I really think you'll enjoy it. read more

I've heard great things about this place, and I truly wanted to have a positive experience. Unfortunately, my recent visit left me feeling more discouraged than anything. We were seated at the bar and waited over 20 minutes without a single acknowledgment from the bartenders. I even managed to get the attention of one bartender--a woman with a septum piercing--but after I politely let her know we were ready to order, she continued to ignore us for another 10 minutes. She didn't offer a greeting, a smile, or any sense of hospitality. The most disappointing was watching a regular customer (they were greeted by name) walk in after us and receive prompt, friendly service--drink and food ordered within minutes. It felt like our presence simply didn't matter. We quietly got up and left. I wish I could say we'll be back, but right now, that's hard to imagine. We live in San Ramon and were hoping to make this a local favorite. It's disappointing to be treated like an afterthought, especially when all we hoped for was a simple, welcoming experience. I'm sure this place has its strengths, and I truly hope others are met with the kind of warmth and attention we didn't receive. read more

Great service, great atmosphere and delicious food and drinks! I would choose this over Range Life any day! I'm disappointed that I didn't try this restaurant sooner. read more

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Came here over the weekend and my friends and I had the yellow tail crudo and some drinks! The crudo had such a fresh and delicious taste to it. I'd def recommend grabbing that if you get a chance to visit here and they're drinks are pretty damn good too. The atmosphere is a vibe and best believe I'll be coming back to this place in the future. I've lived here for a while now and have heard word about this place and I'm honestly glad i had the chance to try it since it's opened. Def recommend! read more

The Black Cat - Yellow tail Crudo, straight heat - Wine Bars Near Me - Livermore, California

Have been here a couple times and have only sat at the bar. Love the laid back environment and that the music isn't too loud.

Best craft pineapple mojito on earth... improve your life with this drink............................!

First things first, great spot for SMALL BITES and yummy cocktails. Service is very good Jake (server) and Jordan (bartender) are amazing with making sure you are taken care of during your visit. The vibe of Black Cat is very sexy, the art work to the Photo Booth makes it a stand out to competitors with its unique sense of style as well as the food and cocktails. It's something different that Livermore needed. Menu is constantly getting new items and it has become one of my go to's before work. Abel is the chef and has done an amazing job creating foods that keep people coming back. 10/10 across the board, if you haven't yet checked them out... YOU NEED TO! Great food, great atmosphere and most of all great company/service. read more

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Amazing cozy spot in Livermore. Creative and delicious cocktails. Get the lamb dumplings. Friendly staff and amazing service.

Heard about this place from a couple of friends and didn't realize it's only been open for about three months. We made a day-of reservation and actually almost drove past it when trying to find parking. It's tucked behind the main fountain in downtown Livermore. It's a small, cozy nook of a place that feels more like a cafe lounge and has a nice, relaxed vibe. First thing we noticed is that they have strange hours and are only open Thurs-Sunday. Our reservation was 7:45pm on a Sunday night, and apparently they close pretty early on Sundays at 8pm, so as soon as we were seated they let us know that last call for the kitchen is right at 8pm and we had to order quickly. Fortunately it's a small menu with small plates, so we didn't need a lot of time to decide. We went with the chef special -- a "rock cod toastada" -- along with a halibut crudo, their summer peaches, Japanese sweet potatoes, and warm marinated olives. We originally wanted to try their A5 wagyu, but our server told us they ran out (which I guess is to be expected for their last day of service until later in the week). I think they felt bad about it and were super generous in letting us try some fresh tomatoes on the house as well as the vegan chocolate mousse on them. For drinks, my wife tried the "nova bite" which was sort of a spicy pineapple cocktail. And I had their non-alcoholic blueberry sage smash, which was essentially a sour/tart lemonade. Both drinks were quite good. My favorite food item was definitely the halibut crudo with the summer peaches as a close second (and my wife's favorite overall). The peaches tasted extremely fresh and even a little savory with prosciutto, ricotta, cherry, and Thai basil. Might sound like a weird combo of flavors but it really works. As for the crudo, I normally don't even like this kind of dish all that much, but they soaked it in an aguachile marinade that really brought out the halibut flavor. Our least favorite was the Japanese sweet potatoes. They tasted a bit chalky and the garlic miso with pistachio glaze just didn't work for me. Nice presentation, but the flavors just didn't quite match. The cod toastada was tasty and had a nice spice to it. I just wish we'd eaten it a little quicker because the tostada got soggy pretty fast, but that was our fault (it was also a little messy and thus tricky to share). The fresh tomatoes were apparently sourced recently from the farmer's market, and we could really tell. My wife was a fan of the warm marinated olives (I don't like olives in general) and took them home to pair with wine. We were pretty full at this point and had no plans for dessert, but when the staff gifted us the vegan chocolate mousse, we couldn't resist! And I'm happy we got to try it because WOW. Creamy texture, just the right amount of rich and sweet for the dark chocolate, and easily shareable. I would go back just for a dessert and drink alone, honestly. 5 stars considering the drinks were on point and at least three of the menu items were home runs for me. And we're definitely intrigued to come back and try the wagyu when they have some available, along with maybe their vintage photo booth in the back corner. Plus the staff was incredibly nice and gracious with us, especially when I have to assume they were tired after a long service and ready to close up. Highly recommend this place as a chill meetup for some good drinks and tasty food to go with it. read more

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Service is relatively quick and welcoming. Staff is knowledgeable about the menu and shared their favorites. My favorite on their menu is the Summer Peaches - it's sweet and savory with the prosciutto and the cream is not too heavy. The drinks are okay but the Blackberry Sage Smash has more flavor than the strawberry one. Wagyu for its price is underwhelming - maybe a lower price point for the quantity would make it worth it. Will definitely come back! read more

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i popped in for a drink and some light bites, and I absolutely loved the dark, cozy vibe and the friendly, intimate atmosphere of this cool little neighborhood cocktail spot. read more

Wow! What an amazing Valentine's Day at Black Cat. Food was phenomenal, service was beyond extraordinary and it was priced very fair. The yellowtail crudo stole the show. Their Valentines drinks were so good I could have drank 10. I cannot wait to go back! Livermore's new gem! read more

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Black Cat Bar is such a vibe! I love the aesthetics of the space , stylish and cozy at the same time. The service was on point, and the drinks we had were amazing. Already planning to come back with my girlfriends for a much-needed moms' night out! read more

4 stars for service and ambiance 3.5 for food and cocktails My resy didn't go through but the owner and staff was very kind and accommodate my group anyways. The place is very cute and the small bites were good but didn't blow us away. We had the halibut crudo, which was good but I had better from Range Life for comparison. The anchovies and chili sauce were good but there wasn't enough bread for that plate. We also had the sweet potatoes which was excellent. As for the cocktails, they were a disappointment. We didn't like the syrups used in each drink and prefer fresh ingredients. Once again, for comparison, Range Life has the best cocktails in the area and I would say Sons of Liberty beats these cocktails as well. The presentation of the drinks were nice but the flavors could use improvement. read more

The Black Cat - Halibut Crudo - Wine Bars Near Me - Livermore, California

This bar is really cute! They have a great selection of drinks to choose from. Love the photo booth in here! It's something so fun and unique! One thing, please please please change the way the spam musubi is flavored the sauce was wayyy too sweet and tasted nothing like a musubi. I paid $9 for two musubi and waited 20 mins for it to come out and it didn't even taste good. Bartenders weren't the friendliest but I understand could've been an off night. read more

Ambiance is perfect for a date night. The cocktail drinks are cute and very tasty. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. They don't have a full on kitchen so, don't expect a ton out of the menu. We stop here to grab a cocktail and a quick bite before going to our main dinner spot or for a night recap. Bathroom is super cute, clean, and moody. It flows with the theme. We love to take a photo in the Photo Booth before heading out! read more

Amazing drinks, service and ambiance. They had a dj playing, the back patio was a vibe and they have a photo booth! I got the tamarind temptress and share the spiced nuts and olives with my friends. Overall a good experience and will for sure be back! read more