Went for "girl dinner" on a Thursday and it did NOT disappoint They have a special with a kale Caesar salad, fries, and an Aperol spritz for $25! (You can add chicken tenders for an upcharge $10) The drink can't be swapped for another alcoholic drink, but you can switch it for something non-alcoholic if you want. Everything was sooo well flavored. The kale Caesar? Literally to die for. I never take salad home because it gets soggy...but I ate it the next day and it was STILL so good and the croutons were somehow still crunchy The chicken tenders were amazing, the fries were perfection, and even though I'm not usually an Aperol spritz girl, I finished the whole drink 10/10 would go back for girl dinner read more

The Laurel - Girl dinner. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - West Hartford, Connecticut

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The Laurel Brunch today was selected for a special birthday--it was a delicious, pleasant experience. The interior of the restaurant was lovely- beautiful wallpaper; comfortable booths. Food and cocktails were delicious.We shared delicious Brussels sprouts and chicken wings for appetizers. I had a creamy tofu scramble for my meal. My companions all had egg dishes which they all said were very tasty. For dessert I had scrumptious Tiramisu- not too sweet, just right! My companions had slices of confetti cake - the frosting was meringue! Their specialty cocktails were varied with interesting, flavorful combinations- not the usual. I decided to try a Manhattan instead which was very, very smooth. Our server, Lonnie, was very gracious and attentive. At the end of our brunch she served us sparkling wine, courtesy of The Laurel with a happy birthday note for our birthday celebrant- such a lovely surprise! read more

Food was yummy ! Burger delicious Spicy Caesar, spicy! Choc cake decadent Chicken and stew yum! One concern is some of rhe sharing plates are less food and others are more ... Hard to estimate . Enjoyed going , and will go again !! read more

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Food and service were impeccable, the espresso martini is the best I've had in the area. The place could use a little sound dampening but overall I love this local haunt, read more

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We want for a special Mother's Day lunch and it was absolutely delightful and delicious. The interior is beautifully decorated with a floral wallpaper and the seating was comfortable. And the service was great . read more

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Wow! The Laurel is truly impressive. Located in what used to be an Irish Pub the brick interior gives a cozy vibe. The food is fancy and delicious! My husband is vegan and I'm vegetarian so we just ordered every vegan option they had and spilt them! Including their Vegan Empanadas, Sweet Potato Flautas, Hearts of Palm Ceviche and Vegan Chocolate Mouse. For dinner we spilt this vegan roasted chic pea and yellow squash that used to be on the menu in February 2026 but now is not. The service was kind and helpful. The Heart of Palm Ceviche was our favorite! The flavors were so popping and bright! Every dish was amazing! I have removed one star because the portions are small and the prices are high. Which is normal for a fancy restaurant. I wish for them to add another vegan dinner item to their menu soon! read more

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I finally got the chance to check out the new restaurant the laurel located where the old "corner pug" was located in west Hartford ! I had heard so many amazing things about, so I was super excited to visit ! To start off I ordered the maize runner cocktail which had this amazing apple cider foam in top and it was sooo good ! Highly recommend. Next we ordered the brussel sprouts which were very good ! Highly recommend . The waygu skewers were very tender and a little chewy but tasted fantastic . The sausage rolls cooked to perfection ! Highly recommend And finally the pasta which was very good however there were a lot of onions which I personally didn't like much . The dessert I think was my favourite ! The salted crème brûlée was to dye for ! So tasty ! And the Tiramisu très lèche cake was sooooo good ! Highly recommend both ! Overall the food was very flavourful and delicious the staff was so lovely ! The only issue we had was my husband had an upset stomach that night ! Overall I had a great time though ! read more

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We went to the Laurel for our wedding Anniversary. The ambiance was elegant and laid back. The service was impeccable. Some drinks suggestions weren't great like the Lucuma No Hands I think the chili oil addition is only for certain pallets but I found it to be a little too spicy. The Haluski Pasta was memorable but needed to be mixed so the flavors meshed better. The Wagyu skewers and brussel sprouts were delicious and I would highly recommend (although the Wagyu was more like a NY strip). To top it off the salted caramel creme brulee was a hit! read more

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I met with some of my friends for brunch and had a really nice experience! The service was excellent, they accommodated our request for comfortable seats ( we did asked ahead of time) , they had a coat check and brought water right away. I loved the ambiance, the space is nice and welcoming and everything we ordered was truly delicious!! Highly recommended!! The French toast and unbirthday cake are a must!! read more

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We were very excited to finally try The Laurel. The food was really good. The flavors were such a beautiful blend. I had a great mocktail, Them Apples, which was made with Ras el hanout. I had never had a drink like that and loved it. Such a beautiful flavor. Brussel sprouts had a unique pretzel topping. Cornbread was so good as well as the fries. It is always a great girl dinner with a salad and fries! The server was very attentive and offered us to give us a try of both the black garlic aioli or vegan chimichurri 'aioli' rather than having to pick one! Both were fantastic. Hand cut fries are elite. read more

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I recently celebrated my 6th anniversary and our dinner at the Laurel met and exceeded my expectations for a wonderful date night dinner. I had eaten at this restaurant months ago and was happy to see how their menu rotates with the season and their local suppliers, with an eclectic menu of wonderful items. They also changed their cocktail menu around as well. My partner and I ordered 4 dishes-- the spicy caesar salad, the haluski pasta with duck bacon, sausage rolls and wagyu skewers. The spicy caesar was crunchy and delicious with a nice kick of chili crisp. The sausage rolls were tender on the inside, while nice and flaky on the outside with a really delicious horseradish sauce that balanced the richness well. The portion was rather small for the sausage roll but taste bites. The haluski pasta was very al dente and has a nice denseness to the pasta, the creamy oniony sauce was delicious and the duck bacon added nice texture and umami to this dish. The wagyu skewers were my boyfriend's favorite dish-- very tender, with delicious sauces we savored with every bite. We also ordered the luna llena cocktail and false alarm cocktails, from their extremely interesting and at times out there cocktail menu (of which there is a caprese-salad inspired cocktail). The luna llena was very smoky and tart, and the false alarm had a spiced quality to it that was very seasonally appropriate. The cocktails were nice, but pretty expensive, however very worth trying. At the end of our dinner, our waitress kindly congratulated us on our anniversary and brought over a card and surprised us with champagne. It was incredibly nice and made the dining experience extra special. We closed out the night with a salted caramel creme brulee, which was deliciously caramelized with a soft slightly salted custard inside. Overall another amazing dinner here with obvious care going into the menu, ambiance and service. read more

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The Laurel and their amazing team were such a fantastic host! My best friend and I came over to celebrate our birthdays with a few drinks and shareable bites. There's a parking lot in the back to support the few businesses at that corner with an accessible handicap entry on the side while the front had a short few steps.l that faces the patio. We sat at the bar with high-stool chairs and were able to take advantage of the happy hour menu for the next 30-minutes after arrival. I enjoyed every dish we ordered! I got Gold Rush as a starter drink. It contained bourbon, lemon and honey. It was a sweet and lovely combination. I recommend this cocktail! Starting with chicken wings evenly coated with buffalo sauce that was not overly dripping. It was arranged and stacked like a set of dominoes on top of each other and garnished with beautifully sliced carrots, celery, and scallions that was tossed with dressing accompanied by a side of blue cheese. I love spice and probably quite accustomed to it so I could taste the kick of the buffalo wings without actually getting kicked by it. Even though celery is a regular accompaniment of this dish, the way it was served was unique! The colors also had a nice contrast making it quite attractive. Did the chef know what they're actually doing? Oh yes, I think so! We also asked for Hearts of Palm Ceviche. This is the first time I've had hearts of palm. It is very similar to an unripe jackfruit. The sweet potato chips that came with it is absolutely delicious! I can eat either of those two things daily! It was also topped with cilantro! I feel spoiled already! Ashely brought us their Spicy Melon Crudo and explained the whole plate to us which is supposed to be a watermelon marinated with gochujang topped with chili crisps, scallions, and I think mint leaves too. To tie in all the flavors, tahini green goddess dressing decorated the edge of the dish for a dance of flavors and not only for plating. This one is quite the delicacy! The Crab Tostada came shortly after and Ashley wished us to keep enjoying. This combination is an inspiration! The description says "marinated crab meat, nuoc cham, red curry crema, blue corn tortilla, sweet chili." I have to be honest that I was afraid to try this because I didn't know how the peppers were going to burn my tongue. Lol. It actually wasn't spicy at all. The corn tortilla remained crunchy despite the red curry crema sitting on top of it long before I made a bite into it. The crab was fresh and meaty while the fish sauce brought out a sweetness to this starter. The portions are well thought out. We then had the Wagyu Beef Skewers which is beef souvlaki with whipped feta. It was also mixed in with date and seed salad, and olives. Ahhh! It's so yummy! We were getting pretty full so we couldn't end the evening without dessert! Opting to share the Tres Leches Tiramisu, they also gave us the Unbirthday Cake. Thank you Ashley!! We both enjoyed your hospitality and cannot wait to come again! Thank you so much for the birthday cards as well! This will be a memory I will never forget! read more

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The Laurel is an exploration of global cuisines. There is no set menu, its cultures woven into one dish ... truly a chef's playground, every dish has elements of Peruvian, Korean, Ukrainian, Vietnamese, Thai...and many more. Just what the world should be like!! "shareable plates, globally inspired, locally sourced" I was very intrigued by the menu and had to try the hearts of palm ceviche. But what blew my mind was the spicy melon crudo.. how did they turn a melon to taste like meat?? The cocktails were creative as well ... miso infused sake... wow!! And to end it all, the salty caramel creme brûlée ...was an easy 10/10. Highly recommended!! read more

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Well well. This is a fantastic new place where the old Corner Pug was. They've freshened up the place and has a cute bar area with bartenders who make very fresh and inventive cocktails. We sat in a high top and ordered a few of the small dishes that the menu is filled with. The oysters were a nice selection. Then the tuna tartare which came with a light "cracker" to eat with the tuna. The carrot pakora had hints of Indian flavor but again felt modern. We enjoyed it. We also loved the truffle Spaetzle mac and cheese. That savory flavor with some saltiness. So good. And upside down blueberry cake was the peak of blueberry season. Great dessert. Service was great. read more

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2nd time here after Ashley Won her Chef of the Year award from the Crazies. Congratulations. This place is so unique in their flavor profiles. Had the Smoking Goat mezcal drink to start. WOW. Came with a Parmesan crisp on it. So delicious. Had the spicy kale Caesar Saturday night and the beet salad. Both were delicious. The beet salad so unique in that they serve it with lime to squeeze on the beets. Who would think lime would pair well with beets?! Well...it does! Cilantro, sesame, peanuts, lime and a crema sauce - wow! Spicy kale is not for the faint of heart - it's spicy but amazing! The mussels were the grand finale for me. Carrots, curry broth that was drinkable as the waitress said (and was), mussels, cilantro. So good. Very enjoyable second meal at The Laurel. Atmosphere - gave it a 3 because the acoustics aren't great in here but the food makes up for it. read more

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I ordered my steak, medium rare, and it was horribly overcooked. No pink at all. I sent the food back in the next cut came out raw. It was also a very bad cut of steak. For $45 I expect more. read more

The Laurel - Steak frites - Cocktail Bars Near Me - West Hartford, Connecticut

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The food was good, the ambience was nice and service was good. However, we had a reservation for 7:30 reservation and when we arrived we were told they didn't have a table for us so we could sit at a high top in the bar or wait 45 minutes for a proper table. Had only one booth left and needed to save it for a party of 3. read more

This place has such a great variety of food and each bite tastes better than the last. I highly recommend the Cornbread & Gravy and the Crab Tostada. read more

They did a great job with the interior. Food and drink were outstanding. Had one maiz runner and it was easily one of the top 5 best cocktails I've ever had, plus it was beautiful. We had the empanadas, Brussels, clams, flautas, and steak frites. Everything was amazing and if it wasn't dairy free, they were able to make it dairy free. Also had the DF pb chocolate mousse and got the oatmilk ice cream and I liked them together. read more

The Laurel - Brussels and clams - Cocktail Bars Near Me - West Hartford, Connecticut

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Omg! Ashley Flagg has not only won chef of the year, she has won me as a forever customer! I was blown away by this fresh farm to table restaurant during a recent brunch visit. As soon as you walk in the door the vibes here are classy, chill and comfortable. The beautifully painted Muriel of the flowers, brick exposed walls and the earth tones make you feel relaxed and ready to enjoy the experience. From the mimosas, handcrafted cocktails and mocktails, there's a drink for everyone to explore. And that's just the start. I ordered the "Dill with it" a vodka, lemon, honey, apple cordial and it was so refreshing. I went with a group of friends so we literally ordered the whole menu. Each dish was hand crafted to perfection. The flavors were rich and all dishes were made fresh. The ingredients are used from local farms which I absolutely love and respect. It takes a village to create magic! And you can taste that with every bite down to the desserts! Some of my favorites included the Black Sea Bass, the cornbread and gravy, the jalapeño cornbread, the French toast sticks, the brunch burger, the CT breakfast Sandwich and the sticky toffee pudding cake. And that's just naming a few. Honestly the whole menu was fire! I just can't wait to go back! read more

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My friends wanted to try out this new spot this weekend after hearing good things. We made a reservation for 8 people just a few days beforehand and arrived at the assigned time. Unfortunately, we had to wait about 30 minutes because the party at the large table before us was taking longer than expected to leave. At the end of our meal, the staff graciously brought over 2 unbirthday cake desserts to thank us for waiting. We weren't going to order dessert but we ate every bite of these! Funfetti cake with cream cheese insider and a meringue frosting. So different and just delicious, though quite sweet. I will happily pay for it next time I am there! The vibe of the place is adorable. I hear it's owned by 2 queer women, which we were happy to support. The wallpaper, the color scheme, the art work on the wall - everything is beautifully curated in a vibe I'd never have thought to do in my own house but was suddenly in love with! Our large party was in a comfy wrap around booth that also had some chairs. I will say my only negative feedback is the chairs have very small seats. Everyone who sat in one said they could feel their butts hanging over the edge and the women were probably sizes 10/12, so not especially large. If you were much heavier, I could see dreading those chairs. But the booth was study and comfy! Most of us wound up ordering the burger with the fried pimento cheese. Oh my gosh. Absolutely wonderful! Pimento cheese needs to be on more menus up North, but frying it to a crisp was a really fun change. The french fries were house cut and perfectly done. 10/10 meal. We also ordered the Brussel sprouts appetizer. They were crispy and seasoned well. I'd happily reorder everything again. Service was great. The waitress was very sweet and kept our glasses full. A 20% gratuity was automatically added to our bill at the end of the night. Everything was very clean and just wonderful. Totally recommend. We will be back! read more

A great addition to the area! They've got a unique tapas-style menu with global flavors that are perfect for sharing and trying something new. The ambiance is gorgeous. Great for a fun night out with friends or a cozy date night. Every dish I had was delicious and beautifully put together. This place is definitely going to be a local favorite. Can't wait to go back and try more! read more

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Truly perfect dining experience. We started off with cocktails and they were each perfectly crafted and unique. The food was great for sharing. Most of the menu had share plates and they were all good portions for our party of 4. Stand outs were certainly the chicken wings (cooked perfectly crispy and flavorful) and the heart of palm ceviche (incredible flavor/essence of ceviche without the fish!). Our server was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu she did not lead us astray. Definitely save room for dessert. It is not an afterthought here! I'd certainly come back here just for an after dinner drink and desert it was all phenomenal. read more

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This renovation is absolutely stunning! I love the flower prints on the wall and two rooms are decorated slightly different but have a very warm and classy feel. The music wasn't too loud which was great because we could still hear each other talking. The waitstaff was truly exceptional as waa the food. Everyone from start to finish was friendly and attentive. As for food, we ordered: The oysters: they were really good but really varied in size. For the price, I just wish the sizes were a bit bigger and consistent. Ghanaian Peanut Stew: my favorite item on the menu. It was warm and comforting and flavors I haven't really experienced before. It was executed beautifully. Pork belly Char Sui: I LOVE pork belly. It was my second favorite item of the night. It was perfectly cooked so it melted in your mouth. It came with peanuts and a slaw that had the right amount of spice and acid. Karage Chicken: my least favorite item however the chicken was cooked to perfection. In my opinion it just lacked flavor and would have been really nice with a light sauce or aioli of some sort. Salted Caramel Crème Brûlée: I'm a snob when it comes to this dessert and I order it whenever I see it on a menu. They nailed the top sugared crust. It was so good. The custard was light and delicious. It said Maldon salt on the menu description however neither of us really tasted any salt components but I imagine that has to be tough with a custard and sugar top. Still a great dish! Overall, we were VERY pleased with the entire experience and will definitely be back. Can't wait to see what the summer menu will have! read more

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We came here for a group brunch and were immediately impressed by the stunning decor as soon as we walked through the door. The service was excellent, the food was delicious, and the menu was both creative and unique. The cocktails were just as impressive--thoughtfully crafted and full of flavor. Overall, we had a fantastic experience and will definitely be coming back! read more

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Great Friendlys service, food, and drinks. One of the best espresso martinis I have had in a while. Nice atmosphere. Look forward to returning. read more

My favorite restaurant! The food, the vibe, and the service are all excellent: have been several times. Also a great open and welcoming space for LGBTQIA+ community, which my partner and I appreciated! read more

I was so pleased and and surprised how good my experience was. The place decor super cute love the natural elements, such as a beautiful monstera . The bartender took such great care in the way he crafted the drinks. It was like an art to watch an absolutely delicious taste. The menu was a delight. I was so impressed by the plant-based ceviche as a Peruvian, and knowing this dish very well, I must say this version outshined a few restaurants Peruvian style ceviche with actual seafood. And I have an amazing burger perfectly cooked and fries also very good. The prices are reasonable and for everything that I've ate I will definitely be coming back. read more

One of our favorite spots in all CT! Every dish is expertly created and memorable with an emphasis on balanced flavors and stunning presentation. The waitresses and kitchen staff are friendly and accommodating. Ask about the Date Night deal on Sundays during your next visit! read more

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Finally made it to this gem I've been hearing about in the former Corner Pub location. They've done a fabulous job renovating the interior- love the marble top bar and cozy ambiance without the "sports bar" feel of old. It's classy and cool. Happy hour had good but a bit limited menu. Entrees were delicious- tried the prawns with bbq grits and WOW. Will def be back! Excellent service too and love their support of LGBTQ community read more

The Laurel - Kale salad, prawns and grits - Cocktail Bars Near Me - West Hartford, Connecticut

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Tried the Laurel for the first time. The place has been redone and it's absolutely gorgeous! When we walked in, we were asked if we had a reservation which surprised me. We did not so we sat at a high tap at the bar. I would say the service is just meh. For food I got the side salad with chicken and my friend got the Caesar salad with chicken. We were both shocked when it came out and it was actually fried chicken cut up into several pieces. I feel like when you get chicken it's understood that it's grilled and that should have been pointed out that it was going to be fried. Overall, I just wasn't impressed a doubt that I will return. read more

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Came here and just loved it! Amazing tapas combined with great service! The place was cozy, friendly and warm.

It was actually pretty busy in here on a random Sunday night. We had reservations and were seated right away. The service was friendly and prompt. Would love to try some more little dishes. The vibe was calm and elegant. Appreciate the framed pug in the back. read more

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We stopped in to the Laurel on a beautiful Sunday afternoon for brunch and cocktails at the bar. Parking was conveniently located in the back and we were welcomed in with warm greetings and smiles. My first impression was that the bar felt closed off from the rest of the restaurant, we like a few TVs, and decor on tables didn't continue into the bar area. The Simple Plan cocktails, and the flavor of the spicy maple syrup were the highlights. We subbed the original hash browns (pictured) for fries, and found the boneless thigh meat a bit fatty for our taste in chicken and waffles. For Tapas I look for that elevation in the ingredients I didn't quite find with our selections. But hey The Laurel is new and close by so we'll give it another shot for lunch or dinner soon! read more

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The restaurant is family-style, primarily tapas, as our waitress explained...so we ordered a few dishes: the cornbread, wagyu skewers, prawns and grits, vegan empanadas, and the pork ribs. The menu is eclectic, the presentation was lovely, and each dish was flavorful. However, it wasn't what I was expecting. It had an asian twist, but then it didn't. It had meat but no substance. I can't put my finger on it. I loved the cornbread and its butter accompaniment with shishito peppers adorning the plate. While the wagyu skewers were delicious, there weren't enough, which is reflected in the price. The prawns were okay with a hint of the ocean. We weren't fans of the vegan empanadas. We had the dry rub pork ribs, which were slightly dry. Overall, the wait staff does an excellent job of being friendly, attentive, and polite. That alone makes this eatery a place to visit. Perhaps if the menu changes seasonally, we'll try it again and have better luck. **Edit**: I want to reiterate that we had no issues to address while we dined. We consumed the food and were satiated; therefore, no additional replacement dishes were requested, and we did not think removing the cost from our bill was appropriate. The Laurel merits another visit. read more

Love this place. Second review. Went to dinner with a friend and was absolutely sated. Great food and prices. Will recommend over and over again read more

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This place is a knock out restaurant! Gorgeous inside and the service was impressive. Tried 4 or 5 dishes and each one was very very good. Full of flavor and attention to detail on presentation. The menu has a little bit of everything. Can't wait to come back! read more

The Laurel - Cocktail Bars Near Me - West Hartford, Connecticut

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Get ready West Hartford, this is about to be one of the hottest spots in town! Very impressed with our visit to The Laurel. Even on day 1, the service was flawless and the food was incredible. Standout dishes to us were the pork belly and Brussels sprouts with kielbasa and creme fraiche, and my mocktail was by far one of the best I've ever had! Great ambiance - it's upscale without being pretentious. Nice to have another option for tapas in town that really focuses on local, fresh ingredients with global inspirations. Loved the unbirthday cake for dessert topped with toasted meringue. We already can't wait to bring friends here! read more

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Came for my birthday and the waitress was incredibly kind and perosnable. The food was an elevated pub style food and very delicious

This place has promise but needs some attention. Four bucks per relatively small glass of soda is undesirable. The chopped salad is subpar--it's more like a health salad from a deli. They serve food as it is ready, which in theory sounds good but in practice doesn't work for a larger group. Our group of 8 ordered various "share" dishes, and some "larger" dishes (like a burger/fries). The share dishes were brought out randomly over a period of 20 minutes, and the larger dishes came out at about 40 minutes. It created a very disjointed eating experience, at different periods of time, ones of us were watching others of us eat. You're fine for one or two couples, but I dont think the current protocol works for more than that. I hope they address this. read more