Beignets, beignets, beignets! This place is perfect for a girls night, date night, friends night, solo night... honestly any night! I came here for drinks and dessert with friends, and the star of the show was definitely the beignets. As someone who has visited New Orleans and tried the real deal, I thought I knew what good beignets tasted like. Turns out, I did not have to travel that far after all! The beignets here are like a cross between a classic beignet and a croissant. Light, fluffy, and just the right amount of indulgent. I will definitely be back to check out more of the menu, but no matter what, I am saving room for the... say it with me... beignets!! read more

Wanted to try something new, and, since I liked the reviews for this place, I figured I'll give it a shot. The ambiance is classy but laid back. The Service was outstanding thanks to Hayley. Her recommendations for pairing the drinks with the food were flawless, and each drink was prepared like a work of art. I started with the raw oysters, paired with a glass of Rose, which I loved. They switched from the Halibut with Fennel to Mahi with Forbidden Rice. The rice is black and inky and potent and extraordinary, but it overwhelmed the fish completely. Still greatful I got to experience it, but I would pair it with something more gamy like lamb or goat. The Pecan pie with warm salted caramel ice cream was nothing short of a spiritual experience, and Hayley's recommendation to pair it with Rum Flip was perfect. Yes, I Ubered. Overall, this one is going to be a frequent hangout. read more

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Finally got the chance to try it and I don't know why we didn't make reservations sooner! I love the open kitchen aspect; adds a different level to the dining experience! The menu has a little something for everyone! On Tuesday's they gave 50% off the Tomahawk Steak. So far one of my favorites in the RDU area! read more

Went for round two and a girl dinner at The Crunkleton. They have the best bar service, every bartender is extremely knowledgeable and friendly. I started with a half dozen raw oysters. They were fresh and salty, just how I like! I settled on the She Crab soup and fries. The soup was super rich, light on the lump crab but heavy on the cream. It has kick from the chili oil but it definitely helps cut on the heavy cream. read more

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One of me and my sisters favorite girl dinners!!! They never let us down and the service is great. Yes we basically ordered the whole menu but we had a party of 4 The manager even came to our table and spoke to us while even remembering our name. Personal touch always wins me over. 10/10 every time and I'll always recommend! read more

The Crunkleton - Tomahawk steak Potatoes Broccolini Mac & cheese Fries Asparagus - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I went here for my husband's birthday celebration and the service was amazing. The restaurant had a wonderful metropolitan feel with open bar view and hand crafted cocktails. They offer a variety of food options from shareable, small plates, and entrees. The open fire grill influenced us to try the steak frites. All of steak were cooked to temperature and seasoned perfectly. My only issue was the pricing of some of the menu items. I think this spot is better suited for its cocktails and small plates for the price point. read more

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This is a perfect place to go for date night or a girls night out. This restaurant is strategically placed on the outskirts of Glenwood Avenue. The aesthetics of this place were top tier and so was the service. I ordered the hanger steak (medium cook) , subbed the fries for the Mac and cheese, and got a side of broccolini. The steak was seasoned perfectly but it was a little chewy and it was slightly overcooked. Nonetheless it had really great flavor. The Mac and cheese was my favorite part of the dish- it had the right amount of cheese and was nice and creamy. The broccolini was good but nothing to rave about. My sister ordered the beignets and omg it was to die for. Unfortunately I am limiting my sugar intake so I only indulged in one but I very well could have eaten all 8 happily. read more

The Crunkleton - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Raleigh's The Crunkleton has been on my radar for a while, so when a friend and I decided to have a business dinner there, I was excited to finally experience it firsthand. While reservations initially seemed impossible to snag, a spot opened up on the waitlist, and we secured a 5:30 p.m. seating, perfect timing and highly recommended. Parking in the area can be a bit tricky if you are hoping for street spots, but a deck across the street at Publix and several paid lots within walking distance make it manageable. The moment I arrived, I was welcomed by a warm and personable host, and shortly after, Julie greeted me at the table with attentiveness that immediately set the tone for the evening. I mentioned my friend was running a few minutes late, and she graciously ensured I was comfortable while waiting. Though an espresso martini was not on the menu, Julie cheerfully accommodated my request. When my friend arrived, we ordered drinks, my friend opting for a tequila-forward cocktail, and began exploring the menu. Though compact, it offered all the elements you would hope for in a thoughtful, curated dining experience. I went for half-price oysters, a Caesar salad, and fries, while my friend chose the piccata. The Caesar was excellent, though it had a subtle twist that did not fully win me over; the fries, on the other hand, were perfectly crisp, and the espresso martini did not disappoint. The space itself is far more intimate than I anticipated, and it filled up quickly, giving the evening a cozy, lively energy. Impeccably clean and clearly cared for by its staff, The Crunkleton balances attention to detail with a warm, approachable vibe. Overall, it is a solid choice for a business dinner or casual night out, offering attentive service, thoughtful cocktails, and a menu that hits just the right notes. read more

The Crunkleton - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I think this spot is a solid addition to Smokey Hollow. We walked in on a Sunday early evening and were able to snag a table even though all the reservations were booked. Both the hostess and our server were friendly throughout the evening. We got the hanger steak which was a solid portion, but a little tough. It did have great flavor though. We also tried the brussel sprouts, which were good, but the steak had asparagus too so we didn't need the extra side. The risotto with the steak was great. We also got the fig and pear salad, and while tasty didn't seem to have any figs. I think the interior is nice, parking is easy in the garage, would definitely head on in again! read more

The Crunkleton - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Came here with a team after work and was frankly disappointed. The atmosphere is fun with a great bar in view and the staff were friendly but the food was just okay. I ordered a wedge salad and a gluten free bun with my burger and fries. The wedge salad stole the show for me! It was delicious and it was LARGE several of us enjoyed it which is good to know as it would have been way too much for just one person. Then I got the waygu beef burger with a gluten free bun. First the bun was not good in my opinion one of the worst GF buns I've ever been given. I should have gone with the lettuce wrap or just no bun at all. The meat was fine but nothing special it was cooked well just lacked flavor. Honestly, there are several other places close by I think that I would try before coming here again. read more

The Crunkleton - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Enjoyed dinner with family from out of town. This is definitely more of a date night spot. Love the cocktail lounge ambiance. Started off with the Old Fashioned and my husband had the Monte Carlos - both were good, but his was a little better. For dinner, I had the fig and pear salad and split the hanger steak with my daughter. Unlike the complaints from other reviewers, the salad had lots of figs and the pear was adequate. It had a tiny too much dressing for me, but I still enjoyed it. The hanger steak was good with the exception of a few gristly pieces toward the end, and the fries were great. We ended with the beignets, which were the table favorite. They were really doughy, but I think that's part of what everyone liked. The sauce on them was amazing! Now for the service, it was not great. The timing of everything was so off. Dare I say, the food came out too quickly. Dinner was served before I could finish my cocktail and salad. Then, my husband ordered a beer when his meal came and it was forgotten and by the time he got it, he was done eating. read more

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A friend and I decided to check out Crunkleton based on the reviews from yelp and a co-worker. It's in a great location in Downtown Raleigh. Not in the midst of the chaos, but close enough to have some variety if you need it. I forgot to make a reservation so we decided to take a chance and be open to bar seating. Luckily we were able to snag a seat at the kitchen bar. We had a front row seat into the prep kitchen and crew doing their thing. It was cool to watch and helpful when we had a questions about our dishes. Our server was nice. She didn't lead with any recommendations, but happily provided some and answered questions when asked. As you can see, I gave the place 3 stars. I was just completely unimpressed with the food that I ordered. I started with the Fig & Pear side salad. The arugula was fresh, but they were stingy with the digs. I only had two small ones on my plate. The vinegarette needed a little bit of sweetness to tone down the acidity of the vinegar. It was intense with the pepperyness of the arugula. For my main entrée I went with the NY Strip and subbed the broccolini for Charred Brussel sprouts. I also ordered an extra side of street corn just to try. The steak was medium like i requested, but it was a bit flavorless and flabby. The NY strip is my favorite cut. It's what I buy and prepare for my family. The one that I was served was difficult to cut and had excessive amounts of fat. That wasn't the least bit rendered. They could have spent a little more time cooking the fat on the perimeter of the steak. Also the bordelaise was runny and seemed to be what ruined the steak texture after it was removed from the open flame. The Brussel sprouts had great flavor but I found them to be too wet. Whether it was from oil or the water bordelaise from the steak. The texture somehow got ruined. The risotto was perfectly cooked, seasoned, and flavored. The street corn had too much lime and mayo. Would have been good otherwise. There was an issue with our drink order at the bar so the waitress brought us complementary beignets to make up for it. The icing was supposed to be cold brew flavored. It was, but it was very subtle. The beignets were still a little doughey in the center, but overall were fluffy and delicious. I didn't taste my friend's food but she ordered the half dozen of raw oysters and the chicken piccata. She raved about both!! I'll give them one more try, but for the price that I paid for my steak, I expected better!! read more

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Looking for a downtown Raleigh restaurant with great food and cocktails? The Crunkleton in Smoky Hollow surprised me I came mostly for dinner and the food absolutely delivered. Elevated comfort dishes, a cozy atmosphere, and craft cocktails that make it perfect for date night or a night out in Raleigh servers are always so nice read more

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Visit #2 On this visit tonight the hostess was extremely pleasant and welcoming when I arrived. I enjoyed the market fish and potatoes this evening along with my elderberry sour. Cunkleton has yet to miss a beat with the food. The service of one particular waiter (Praddy P on the receipt) wasn't the best this evening. Seemed annoyed by my questions. Lacked common helpfulness. The waiter tone quickly turned very hasty. Not asking allergies. No water refills. Slow check ins, if any. I noticed a more pleasant demeanor, more attention, carefully asking about allergies and making small talk with the couple seated next to me. I definitely wasn't given the same level of treatment. These are concerning differences. I believe all guest deserve the same level of attention. The difference in the approach taken with me and the guest I observed this waiter assisting felt racially profiled to me. I haven't experienced this before but perhaps everyone I encountered in my previous visit was just pleasant to all customers. The Crunkleton should have a coaching with this individual. This is 2025, not the 1860s. I definitely did not read this wrong! read more

The Crunkleton - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Ambiance was great. Came for a birthday and then made it special- birthday card, delish dessert. The host was the best part of the experience. She was so friendly, energetic and amazing! Ordered the tomahawk steak with extra sides. Presentation was wow. However, the steak was very tough and chewy. It was cooked medium rare and still almost impossible to cook. I am going to write it off as a not so good cut of meat and would return to give it another try. read more

The Crunkleton - Tomahawk steak - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

My friend and I stopped by Crunkleton to grab a quick drink. We were waiting for a local night market to start nearby. I ordered the Mai Tai, which was strong and fruity. My friend order another cocktail but now for the life of me, I can't remember what drinks she ordered. She really liked both that she ordered tho! Very nice decor inside. Definitely looks like a high-end dinner night spot. I'd come back to try out the menu next time I'm in the Raleigh area. read more

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I've been twice now. This most recent visit we needed a late lunch/brunch around 2:30 pm and lots of decent places close at 2 and don't reopen until 5. I like that they actually never close though to do go down to a small snack menu between 3-5. We were able to still get Sunday brunch. I like that it was no wait at all and would recommend people come here if they have friends in town and want a nice brunch. The food portions were good and the menu was a nice selection. They also had nice cocktails to enjoy during brunch. I would go back. The ambiance is always nice in there even by day. The furniture makes for a nice brunch location if you're dressed up, but we were casual and still fit in fine. Parking on a Sunday is also a bit easier. read more

Wow! Overwhelmed by this AMAZING place! We sat at the bar which was THE BEST experience! Pace made our visit truly incredible. He was so personable and friendly. He taught us "all the things" while we watched him craft his delicious and artful cocktails. We asked a million questions. It was like going to visit your best friend after long time of not seeing each other. So much fun. We ordered the Tomahawk. Not only was the steak the perfect temperature but it was seasoned beautifully. The chef spoke to us TWICE. He was over the top friendly and thankful we loved his food. Thanked us for coming and of course encouraged us to come back and let him take care of us. we also ordered beignets! Yes. They were incredible. We will come back and recommend this place to EVERYONE we know. But we will go in at 5 right when they open and sit in the bar every single time. Their lineup of bartenders is off the hook. Crazy pedigrees. It shows in their craftsmanship. Watching the chef cook is a really nice touch. Their music is also a fantastic mix of mellow and upbeat and isn't stuffy. It's so gross to go into an establishment that is "nice" and hear "smooth jazz" or something even more mellow. Catering to the idea that the only people who eat at nice restaurants are rich and old. This perfectly lit restaurant is perfect for those EXCITED to come and celebrate their love for food. This was happy, mellow music with an upbeat flair. Very Nice. If you are looking for "THE BEST PLACE" to celebrate an occasion or just have a realllly good meal "THIS IS THE PLACE!" read more

The Crunkleton - Tomahawk, roasted veggies, fingerling potatoes, grilled garlic bread, and Mac n Cheese. Amazing! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

My husband and I went for a date night at the new Crunkleton downtown and cannot stop singing their praises. We sat at the bar and were well taken care of by Steven, he greeted us and gave us a thorough introduction into Gary Crunkleton's newest concept, bourbon sourcing and collection. The cocktail menu is carefully curated including the famous Paper Plane, from Chicago's Violet hour. We ordered the Mussels to start, which were divine! Be sure to order extra bread to sop up the broth. We split the waygu burger with truffles fries for dinner. It was melt-in-your-mouth and one of the best burgers I've had in Raleigh. Don't skip the dessert - Flourless chocolate torte was rich and decadent. read more

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An Elegant Ambience Welcome Us with Open Arms! An Enticing Aroma Perfumed the Air as We Were Led to Our Seats by Our Curious Nose! The Food was Presented Beautifully as Well as the Taste! read more

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My fiancé and I stopped by for pre-dinner drinks. The bar had plenty of seating, and both cocktails were excellent--my old fashioned was on point, and my fiancé's brandy signature drink was refreshing. Our bartender was friendly and attentive, and watching them hand-cut ice blocks was a nice touch. The only downside: we had to provide our phone number at the host stand just to grab drinks at a half-empty bar, which felt unnecessarily formal. Despite that quirk, we both agreed we'd return. The Crunkleton delivers good crafted cocktails in a nice atmosphere. read more

The food and drinks are worth the visit. I enjoyed the tomahawk steak, pork shank, and hanger steak. I also enjoyed the wedge salad. The chicken sandwich tasted ok. The ambience is contemporary and comfortable, and service was great. Staff worked together as a team, and I have no complaints. I prefer bar seating instead of table seating. The bathrooms are clean, and it's a bonus to use single hand towels instead of paper towels. I have dined here several times, and I will return again soon. By the way, Colby is an excellent bartender. The owner is friendly and approachable, and the vibe is a plus, overall. read more

Never disappoints. Had the burger and fries. That's my go to meal. Simple. Very good.

I had a great experience visiting The Crunkleton their wagyu burger and it is still the best burger I can find in Raleigh so far! I definitely recommend and I also had the Southern Herb Pickled Shishitos as an appetizer and it was delicious as well! The service was great as well our waitress was very attentive and the ambiance was right up my alley as well! I think the food is very well priced I would definitely recommend! read more

The Crunkleton - Wagyu burger and hanger steak - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Service and food are great. The chairs are horrendously uncomfortable. They aren't deep or wide enough. If you have any hips/backside, you're in for an uncomfortable experience. They don't have anywhere for your purse which is a problem at the high tops. Also, don't buy the tomahawk steak if it's not Tuesday. They let us know after we ordered and as they were serving the food that it's half price on Tuesdays. Besides that snd the very uncomfy chairs, the experience was good. read more

The Crunkleton - Tomahawk steak (1/2 price on Tuesdays, apparently) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Great food! Tasty drinks! And the bartender, Stefano, was fun to talk to and very entertaining. And it was such a fun atmosphere. Sophisticated yet lively. Such a great time that I'll definitely be back. read more

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Omg where do i start! Went in a group of 7 to celebrate a birthday. This place is to be known for their cocktail bar but We went on a Tuesday & it happened to be tomahawk Tuesday where their tomahawk is half off! Yeah you read that right! So we got the last one (they were cranking them out all day) and a bunch of sides, 2 people got the chicken sandwich and one person got the pork shank. We also got drinks & dessert. I highly recommend the bee's knees and bourbon bramble. YOU HAVE TO GET THE BEIGNETS AND THE ICE CREAM!!!! There was literally no leftovers on our table. We will be back for sure read more

My dinner at The Crunkleton exceeded my expectations and delivered a pleasant dining experience across the board. Our server was attentive and very communicative which is what I value a lot when it comes to service quality. They are accommodating of allergy requests and were able to make sure the dishes came out safe and satisfactory. I enjoyed my cocktail and was delighted at the presentation. The small crunchy ice style is a bonus if you enjoy this type of unique ice in drinks like I do. The ambiance has a sleek and modern Southern vibe. It checks the boxes if you're looking for a cool new date night spot! read more

The Crunkleton - The Painkiller Cocktail - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

The atmosphere is very relaxing with good vibes. We were celebrating my birthday during brunch hours. The manager was very professional, friendly and attentive. I loved everyone's hospitality and customer service!! The food was a bit mediocre. My favorite was the espresso martini (especially the description) and the beignets. Some said the oysters were good. The shrimp and grits were ok. The spicy chicken sandwich lacked flavor as well as the hash browns. The burger was simple. Despite the missing flavor, I'm willing to give it another try. Especially since brunch was new. Next time, I want dinner! read more

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I've been twice but have only sat at the bar. The bar tenders are very engaging and friendly. They gave me great recommendations for food and drinks. The cocktails are delicious. The food is as well. I'm in the neighborhood so I'll definitely be back. read more

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Returned for dinner after about a year since giving it a rest. Unfortunately, going to need another break. The NY Strip was less than tender and dragged through extra salt. Love the herbal flavor but it was really hard to get past the salinity. The veggies were charred but not cooked. Very tough to cut or chew. The duck fat potatoes were also slightly undercooked, and bland overall. The service was nice but less than attentive as we had to follow up on drink service after waiting for a long while to place a drink order in the first place. Drink was good once we got it, bartender is skilled. As a Tar Heel, I am really pulling for this place but it's got to up its game and become more consistently good to justify the pricing. read more

The burger is out of this world!! And the bartenders are great. The bar selection is expansive. And it's a Beautifully decorated environment. The fries were perfect. Can't wait to come back and try other items from the menu. read more

Great atmosphere. Attentive and friendly staff. The quality and flavor of the food was top tier. I will definitely be returning. read more

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I recently had the opportunity to dine at the newly opened Crunkleton in Raleigh, located in the vibrant Smoky Hollow district--and let me just say, it was an all-around amazing experience. From the moment we arrived, everything felt thoughtfully curated. Parking was easy with covered paid options available nearby (though I forgot to ask about validation). As we entered, we were warmly greeted by a fantastic hostess. Her bubbly personality and energy truly set the tone for the night. Our table wasn't quite ready when we arrived, but I appreciated the option to wait at a community table where Cherice took care of us. We enjoyed drinks and conversation until our table was available. It was a great touch and made the short wait feel like part of the experience. Once seated, we were taken care of by Kristina, who was exceptional, attentive, personable, and just a joy to interact with. The oversized booths were a huge plus, comfortably accommodating our party of six with room to spare. Now, the drinks: The vodka martini I ordered was smooth and perfectly chilled. Friends in our group raved about the elderberry cocktail, a sparkling rosé, and the house red blend, "Odd Bird," which was delicious. Another standout was the "Justin" red wine! It was just as good as the name implies! For food, everything we tried hit the mark. Four of us shared the steak, which was cooked beautifully. One friend had the pork, another the Wagyu burger, and we all agreed that they nailed it. The char-grilled oysters were a solid start, but the real showstopper appetizer was the chicken wings--seriously, some of the best I've ever had. Pro tip: order them double charred! To top it all off, they surprised us with beignets for dessert in celebration of a friend's birthday. Absolutely divine. If I had one critique, it's that I wish the space was a bit larger--this place is going to become a major Raleigh favorite, and I can see reservations becoming hard to come by. But that's just a testament to how good it is. Final thoughts: Stellar service, excellent drinks, standout dishes, and an atmosphere that blends energy with comfort. I'll absolutely be back and soon! read more

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I go from 5 to 2 in 2 months. Dealt with Pace at the bar tonight. He shows a total lack of interest. I was going to order dinner but he stood at hostess stand for 5 minutes. I will not give this place a lower score because of my initial experience. I still recommend Crunkleton but...I hope if you sit at bar you have someone that gives a shit. read more

Fun new spot in Smoky Hollow. Great selection of bourbons and excellent cocktails. Somewhat limited menu. Excellent burgers. Service was polite but a bit perfunctory. We need to make a return visit in order to properly review this restaurant. read more

Came for a top tier burger and that's what we got! Upscale vibes with classy cocktails and comfort food with a twist. Everything we got was outstanding. Waiter was extremely nice and knowledgeable about the food. read more

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Strange vibes from staff, including the gentleman who seated us and the bartender who started out as our server. The bartender seemed fairly uninterested in service--I.e. told us there was no midday menu, then mentioned food on a midday menu was all we could order aside from brunch, but didn't give us the menu until we specifically asked for it and someone else had to go get it. Took our drink and food order and then once the food came out, we never saw him again. I never got a second drink because he didn't come back. Another bartender came by once to get my partner a drink and then we didn't get service from anyone else in the restaurant for the rest of the meal. The meal, by the way, was completely unseasoned. I had to ask for ramekins of salt and pepper to make the bowl of fries and dry rubbed wings edible. The pimento cheese came out like a paste that had obviously been sitting out too long. Nobody cleared dishes or offered other drinks--we didn't even get any water refills. We had to ask a random server to give us our bill and we're not thanked (except by this random server who was washing glasses) or spoken to before we left by anyone. Wouldn't recommend for service or food especially with the high prices of the food--all of this was overpriced and poorly executed. There are much better places for the same menu in the Triangle! read more

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This was our first time visiting The Crunkleton since they just recently opened. I really love the ambience--it's a beautiful spot. My husband and I sat at the bar for dinner, and our bartender/waiter was fantastic: very knowledgeable, attentive, and made excellent drink recommendations. That said, the menu itself felt just okay to me, and while the food was decent, nothing truly stood out. For the price point, there are other places in the area I'd likely choose over this one. I'm glad we gave it a try, but not sure we'll be back anytime soon. read more

Went to the Crunkleton tonight with my boyfriend to celebrate purchasing our first ever home! Ambiance was great, very warm and hip feel. Started with the mussels and they were divine - large portion, amazing sauce, and great bread to dip. My boyfriend got the NY strip and I got the prime rib as they were out of the hanger steak. Both came with broccolini and mine had mashed potatoes while his came with risotto. Mash was great, risotto very good but quite salty. Both our broccolinis were heavily salted (and I LOVE salty) but not at all intolerable. Pecan pie was a great finish. Overall enjoyed the experience but was disappointed they were out of oysters and hanger steak and with some of the seasoning. read more