HH & I loved our dinner here!!! Hungry Hubby (HH) can be a hard one to impress, however our server & the food did exactly that!! The special drinks for Christmas were amazing! Can't wait to go back!!! read more

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The Pearl is a fairly new restaurant to us (first timers going today) located right outside a bike park. While the food was good, the overall vibe felt a bit mismatched for the crowd. Most people are coming straight from the bike park -- very casual and often with kids -- yet The Pearl has a fine dining atmosphere with classical music, cloth napkins, and a polished, upscale feel. It's a beautiful space, but many families (including ours) had kids who weren't quite ready for a full sit-down experience, and this was the only food option available. A more casual option nearby, like a sports bar, would make a lot of sense for this location. As for the food, we had mixed experiences. First of all, the menu was ginormous! I feel like they would have done better with a smaller range of options so that they could perfect the offerings. My husband didn't enjoy the chipotle chicken tacos (they were on the spicy side) but I loved the seasonal lobster bisque and the wedge salad with added chicken. We started with the spinach artichoke dip, which was good and served with thick pita bread triangles. Kids meals were $10 and came with a good side and drink, which felt fair. Desserts looked great, but we didn't order any this time. Overall, good food and a beautiful restaurant -- just a slightly unexpected fit for the bike park crowd. read more

3.5 / 5. We came with our son and dined inside - we have been trying to get here for a while (we visit Aspire park often). The inside is really pretty and I love that the museum feature was nearby to distract our 2.5 YO. The restrooms and inside were clean as well. The staff at the entrance we've had some struggles with. Weeks before this attempt we decided not to try and go on home based on the response we got when we walked in to ask about availability. This round we had a lot of delays with our server and observed a lot of tables either waiting on food or waiting to pay - with some more patient than I'd thought they'd be. We didn't protest at the time because we were through with waiting to wrap up. Not sure if it was the time of day or dinner rush, but everything was just out of rhythm on the food. The fish appetizer and sides of fries were okay, but the burgers, bacon and mac & cheese really should have been sent back. But with a little one we couldn't wait for a redo. We may try it again (everyone deserves grace in business sometimes) but this trip was just "meh". read more

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It was a pretty good dining experience for a buffet. Cost was VERY EXPENSIVE! Our late lunch buffet for four adults was $270 that included four drinks(tea, lemonade, etc.) and one cocktail. Price did include a tip that was not so much given the buffet format. We went with a group for mother's day. They ran late seating us for our reservation. We all had the buffet. Drinks were very slow to arrive and refill. Plates were not cleared often enough. Plates piled up on the table. Food quality was way better than your average buffet. Salmon, pork medallions, chicken, roast beef were all very good. Mashed potatoes and gravy are great. Green beans and others are good but many vegetable items don't keep well in buffet trays. Roast beef was juicy and very flavorful. The outside space is incredible with table service, play ground, zip line, hiking, mountain biking track, lake access for kayaking, paddle boats, etc. Ambiance is good. Dining room was packed but not too noisy. I would try it another time on the regular menu. read more

From the moment we walked in, The Pearl at Aspire impressed us with its warm, high-class atmosphere--refined, inviting, and absolutely worthy of a fine-dining reputation. If I didn't know any better, I would have thought I was at a high-end San Francisco eatery. There were many highlights, but the star performer of the evening was our server, Kyle, who was superb in every possible way. Attentive without hovering, personable without forcing it, and incredibly knowledgeable. His recommendations were spot-on and made the entire experience feel tailored and special. We were never rushed and enjoyed a relaxing and memorable 2-hour repast. I ordered the Bone-In Pork Chop--a 10 oz thick-cut chop brined in sweet tea and finished on the grill with a dried cherry Marsala demi. Outstanding!! It was succulent, juicy, and unbelievably tender--truly one of the best-prepared pork chops I've had anywhere. My sides were just as exceptional. The rustic brown butter mashed potatoes were creamy, rich, and beautifully balanced, while the bacon Brussels sprouts were a revelation--small, tender, perfectly roasted bite-sized deliciousness. Every element of the plate showed care and beautiful plating skill. And as if the evening couldn't get any better, we finished our meal with the Bourbon Dried Cherry Pecan Pie--truly a slice of heaven. Bourbon-marinated sweet cherries and roasted pecans nestled in a perfectly flaky crust, all topped with a cloud of fresh whipped cream. Every bite a delectable memory I'll be savoring for a long time. Between the atmosphere, the food, and the top-tier service, The Pear delivered a tremendous dining experience from start to finish. I'll definitely be back--and soon. read more

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The grounds and restaurant are beautiful. Floor to ceiling glass windows and patio and roof top seating. We were sat at a booth by the bar. Waitress was nice but juggling food customers and helping at the bar so we did have to wait some. Food arrived and looked stunning. Steak was under cooked ordered medium got mid rare. We had soup but was not provided a spoon. Brussel sprouts were cold, not even mild warmness to them. One member in the group ordered shrimp skewers and she didn't get her meal when the rest was delivered. After 10 min we flagged down a passing manager who said he would check on it. A few minutes later the waitress appears with the meal .. also with cold brussel sprouts. This place has amazing potential but no matter how pretty the location or food if it's not hot and tasty then it's not good. For a meal that was $150 I expected more honestly. read more

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Beautiful location! The food was decent for a park. The fish tacos were good and the kids were excited about there being a little truck with ice cream. They ran out of waffle cones, but they were ok with cake cones. Our server was nice too. Overall I would give the food 4/5. I would eat here again since the park is amazing, but I wouldn't go out of my way to come here if I wasn't hiking or kayaking or something out here. read more

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A fellow teacher friend and I met at Aspire Park recently, for a walk and lunch. It's such a beautiful place! We walked the paths and enjoyed all the wildflowers, before making our way to The Pearl for lunch. The restaurant is stunning - definitely an upscale, sophisticated vibe. We had a reservation and were seated quickly. I chose the short rib tacos for my meal, and my friend selected the chicken salad sandwich. We were both pleased! Service was on point! We'll definitely be back. The Pearl makes for a unique dining experience for sure! read more

We love this restaurant for lunch when coming to Aspire . Yummy food and nice service. Very convenient that it's close to the playground, for those who come with kids . read more

The Pearl - Caprese salad - Desserts Near Me - Clinton, Tennessee

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We visited the restaurant yesterday after walking the park. They told us a 30 min wait and we were seated in 15 mins, which was nice. We had lunch and both ordered the burgers. Both burgers had a nice charbroiled flavor, but both came out very dry and the patties were small. One of us had the broccoli and it had zero seasoning or butter, was literally just steamed and no butter was provided. The other side was a salad, it was a $2 upgrade and was decent, but tiny. It wasn't the quality we expected from such a place and we love the park surrounding, but wouldn't recommend the restaurant after this visit. The server was great btw. read more

We celebrated our wedding anniversary at Aspire. It was our first time here and we couldn't have picked a more special spot. We were seated in a booth next to the bar. Our waiter Brandon took great care of us, always on top of refilling our drinks and getting our food out quickly. We started our feast with the spinach artichoke dip. I liked how Aspire's take on the dip was served with pita chips. It was delicious and the perfect appetizer. For our mains, I had the pork tacos and my better half had the burger and fries. The pork tacos were good, but maybe not seasoned enough for me. I originally wanted the short rib tacos, but as their menu changed two days before, they had taken them off the menu. And for dessert, we settled on the strawberry shortcake which came out with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It was the perfect way to end our special day. And then, Brandon, brought out yet another dessert for us on the house!! It was the cotton candy and put the biggest smile on my face as it reminds me of my native Ukraine and always getting cotton candy in the park. Brandon, thank you and hats off to you for going the extra mile for us!! We will certainly be back. read more

This was our first time eating here and we were very excited to learn they were hosting an Easter lunch/dinner buffet. Sadly, we were disappointed in the food and the cafeteria style dining. I excepted a little more ambience. The meats were extremely dry especially, the salmon (except the beef). Also, the Mac and cheese and other dishes which is a kids favorite was spicy. I love spicy, but when hosting a family holiday you really need to accommodate for the kids. read more

Food 4.5/5 - The Pearl at Aspire was a great restaurant. The food was speedy, flavorful and delicious. I bone-in pork-chop, French fries chicken pasta were my favorite items. Lost .5 because I wished the Brussels pouts were flash fried or crispy. Overall, great food. Would love to try other menu items! Service/ Ambiance 5/5 - We had a table of 12 for a birthday party and they were great with reservations and service. Our waiter was helpful picking menu items, patient with older customers and great with refills of drinks. The Christmas display behind was added a great atmosphere/experience. read more

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We enjoyed lunch in the air conditioned dining room after playing on the playground. The service was very friendly but slow. We liked the food especially the Churchill cigars and pizza. The place was mostly clean aside from crayon on the tables but I imagine that's scrubbed off at the end of the night. The bathrooms were very clean and there a little inside information area with some fun stuff for kids. We will definitely eat here again when we come to enjoy the grounds. read more

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Maybe my expectations were too high, but I was not impressed. I didn't see anything overly exciting on the menu so I Just ended up ordering a hamburger, which came out undercooked. My husband got the burger with pimento cheese and his was cooked fine. Tried a bite of his and I'd call it average at best. The potato soup was fine, but again average. Deviled eggs were below average (lacked flavor, tasted like a plain hard boiled egg and not even a good one). The staff was friendly but the food was nothing at all to rave about. Just based off this one experience and a few other reviews I just read, if The Pearl is going to make it, they're going to have to make some changes. I am not a picky eater and there are very few places that would cause me to write a negative review, but I have no plans to return. read more

We visited for a work dinner and have to compliment our server, Jordan. She was hilarious, fun, and on point with recommendations and order instructions. All the food was cooked well and seasoned perfectly. But at the end, it was Jordan who made our experience so much fun. read more

Lovely ambience but the food was subpar. The soup was delicious but for the price I expected better. The service was fast and the staff were very kind. Will definitely be going back but more for drinks and the park and less of the food. read more

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We've eaten at the Pearl twice this past week. JT surprised me by taking me there to eat & see the lights. We enjoyed it so much, we took my in laws there two days later. The deviled eggs are serviceable, but the grouper bites are the bomb! We also had the grouper entree & the bone-in pork chop. Both were so yummy. The pork chop was juicy & smoky and the Cherry Marsala Demi glaze made it. Grouper was seared perfectly & the remoulade added a tangy touch. We had dirty mashed potatoes & Brussels sprouts. Both were very good. We enjoyed peanut butter pie for dessert. It was a rich & sweet finish. The first night, we sat near the bar & the second we were upstairs. We preferred downstairs. Our upstairs server, Kaylee, had such a great personality & did a terrific job. They haven't been open long & there's a lot to be worked out. The kitchen is downstairs, so all the food has to be taken upstairs using the elevator that guests also have to use. It's a lot on the servers. Why there isn't a dumb waiter or something is beyond me. We had a fun time & the lights were just fantastic. read more

Food was delicious. Riley was our waiter, he was super great and attentive. Made our visit even more special. Thank you for the great service. read more

We loved the park and wanted to love the Pearl but we felt like the restaurant needed to up its game a notch or 2. We went in and had reservations. We were seated promptly but our server never showed so after about 30 minutes we had to flag someone down. Once they found our server he was polite and did a fair job. Our food was ok. We had the salmon and grilled chicken . Salmon was great but chicken was pretty tough. The atmosphere is beautiful but the flow of traffic from the side door was loud and distracting. People were coming in through the restaurant to go to the bathroom instead of entering through the main door. Our table just happened to be in the thoroughfare so it was somewhat chaotic. What we expected to be a relaxing dinner at the end of a nice afternoon in the aspire park turned out to be a disappointing. I hope they do well because I love the concept. We will give it another chance but will request seating away from the side door. The menu is a mix of what I would consider fine dining with some casual food. Lots of unsupervised kids roaming in and out of the restaurant itself from outside was nerve racking. Hopefully our next trip will be less stressful. read more

This is an interesting place. First, the good things. The park itself (Aspire) is really beautiful and actually drew us from Knoxville to have a look around. If you like hiking or biking, it's definitely a must visit, we will return in the spring to take it all in when it's a bit warmer. As for the dining, well, there is definitely room for improvement. The service was fine once you get things sorted out a bit, it's kind of confusing because there are outdoor tables that you can presumably sit at and eat lunch if you are visiting the park, but they are also seated for the restaurant, so it's not that intuitive. We wound up sitting at the bar, where we received good service from the girl working there, though it was a little comical because she didn't seem able to reach far enough across the bar to hand us our drinks. The food was....mid. I had a ribeye and my wife had the salmon. We aren't really complainers, but the cook temp was off (both a bit overdone). Not really a big deal, the place is super nice. I would just say that when you have choices like Fleming's, Conner's or the Chop House in similar price ranges (we dropped around $120, with a two glasses of wine and after tip) it would be hard to put this place in the regular rotation. We considered doing the Christmas light walk, but I think it was like another $50-60 to do it, so we passed. All in all, it's an interesting place. I think the guy that owns it built a statue of himself out front which is definitely unique to say the least! We will be back to enjoy the park's amenities in the future! read more

We had 6:00 reservations, didn't not get seated till 7:00p. We watched to waiters collide and water go all over the guest. Ordered appetizers and one main dish. Main dish arrived first (risotto). This dish was Luke warm only flavor was white wine very disappointed. Appetizers came next. Bake Brie was delicious, pimento cheese bits were just ok. Service appears untrained and like a really bad circus. This restaurant has so much potential. No heaters outside or fire pits in seating areas. We also did the lights which I feel is over priced for you to walk through lights. Hot chocolate was 3.54 for a small, and it was all the way down by the water. The lights are beautiful and dance floor was cool. I mean you can get a large hot chocolate at Weigles for less! read more

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Was a great meal for Thanksgiving. At first we were seared downstairs which is all glass walls/doors and was very chilly and we could almost feel a breeze. We asked about upstairs and although they tried to persuade us to stay where we were upon insistence that reseated us upstairs and it was delightful. Very good service and the food was great. Good wine list as well but we had to get the main wine list vs the Thanksgiving meal wine list. read more

I got the burger I had a family member get the pork chop they said it was the best they ever had. The waiter was very nice. They had a live band playing. read more

The Pearl - A burger with fries and mac and cheese - Desserts Near Me - Clinton, Tennessee

The food was mediocre at best. I ordered a medium well steak, but it came out rare. The water had visible floaties, and both of my mixed drinks came out with gnats in them. Definitely not the dining experience I expected from such a classy looking place. read more

This is a beautiful restaurant, bar and party rental space on the edge of a tremendous public park. I'm sure the folks in Clinton are grateful for such a venue. We drove from North Knoxville to give it a try. To start, the ArtDeco detailing is very classic, and I especially appreciated the light fixtures the look like glowing pearls. Speaking of those light fixtures, y'all need to DIM IT DOWN. It was WAY too bright in the dining room and also in the bar upstairs. Our server was very kind and did a fine job. The food was mediocre, however. My friend and I had the risotto, and while the flavor was good, it was not cooked enough. Her husband ordered a chicken pasta entree which he had had once before on a previous visit. He said that there was not much flavor or seasoning on the dish as compared to the last time he ordered it. My husband had a steak and he said that it was fine. All that said, we're happy to have a restaurant of this caliber on this side of town, so we're going to give it a bit longer to work through the kinks and then we plan on trying it again. read more

For such a nice atmosphere and setting, the food needs some serious work if this restaurant is going to make it. I hope the owner makes some changes on food quality or chef because the restaurant has so much potential. Don't make the mistake like us and expect high-quality food if you come here. Expect Chilis/Applebee's quality or worse, not a more upscale food quality. The Brussels sprouts tasted like a frozen bag of Birds Eye vegetables. Half of our food came out cold. Asparagus was so loaded with salt, it was inedible. One dish of chicken was completely tough and the other under cooked. Service was just okay. read more

We love everything about this restaurant and the park. The food was delicious and my kids loved the atmosphere. read more

The Pearl - Desserts Near Me - Clinton, Tennessee

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I really wanted to like this place. The ambiance is nice, classy but not pompous, the wait staff was pleasant. Some of the food was very good, the kids had the chicken fingers. They were delicious but if you have a kid with texture issues, the batter was thick on these. The fruit was a bit under ripe and a little bit sour. I had the Brie as an app, it was cold. My daughter had a chicken sandwich and it was burnt. Why they sent it out that way is beyond me. I also had the short rib tacos, they would have been good of they had been warm. The onions on them were more raw than not. Since they are still pretty new, I'll give them another try, but I can't recommend them at the moment. Oh the last thing is that it took a long time to get food. read more

I'd like to take Billy Bob from the Landman show here. I love his "he must be a trust fund baby, because he sure isn't going to make a living off of tips." Clayton was our server, I think, or maybe he was a ghost. I ordered a diet coke as I was the designated driver, and my wife ordered the Bottegga Vinala. My coke came right away and I watched them pour my wife's drink and it sat on the bar, and sat on the bar, and finally a manager type brought it over. We had a reservation and still waited 30 minutes to be seated and another 15 minutes to get our drinks and place our order. My wife had to remind Clayton that we didn't have napkins or utensils. It took forever for our food to be served. I ordered the Citrus Herbed Chicken with fingerling potatoes. Some of the potatoes were cooked, some were half raw, all were barely above room temperature. The chicken was as bland as bland can be. How can you mess up chicken? The pictures are deceiving. It looks great, taste not so much. My wife had to ask Clayton for salt and pepper. She ordered the Grilled Fresh Chilean Salmon. NOT! She loves salmon and only hate 1/2 of it. Her potatoes were cold as well and her brussel sprouts were supposed to be roasted and were 1/2 cooked. Basically, we threw away most of the food. Same manager type kept having a conversation with a group in the booth next to us and it appeared they had a contest going to see who could talk the loudest. The park is beautiful and the restaurant could be something special but it's not. If it survives another 6 months I'll be surprised, but we won't be going there to find out. From the time we arrived until we paid the check was nearly 2 hours. 30 minutes each way from Knoxville to Clinton and return, that is 3 hours of my life I'll never get back. Bad food, bad service, I wouldn't walk across the street to eat there again. Every time we have a bad waiter I think it can't get any worse and then someone proves me wrong. Don't go here, you'll be very disappointed. read more

The Pearl - Citrus Herbed Chicken - Desserts Near Me - Clinton, Tennessee

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Food subpar. Service terrible. The one hostess is rude (has been more than once). Our server was one of the worst we have ever had in our lives and simply not qualified to work there. Clearly no serving experience and either not trained or untrainable. My husband's glass had a knife in it when we sat down and before we could even give it thought the server approached and grabbed the knife out of the glass and began pouring mounds of ice into it. She didn't give her name and was super rude and aggressive. She poured ice on the table and floor (no big deal but her reaction was not accommodating). We ordered sparkling water that never came. When she went to take our dinner order she did so while she was sweeping garbage off the floor into a dustpan and then left broom and pan right next to our table for our whole meal. She had no manners or tact saying things like "what we thinkin?" "What you need?" After our food arrived, we were never asked if we needed anything else. When the server brought the check (without asking about desert or if we wanted anything else [we didn't]) she approached saying "alright alright alrighhht..." the proceeded to suddenly try to act sweet and professional for a quick second. Then, she hovered close by as we filled out the check and just about ran to the table the moment we stepped away. The food was teetering on the edge of gross. We had to listen the bartender drone on and on to someone about this that and the other thing even though we weren't sitting at the bar. The couple next to us was having items taken off their bill- not a good sign. Overpriced. Will not return. read more

The service and ambiance were absolutely wonderful. However, the food was nothing to write home about. The place definitely has all the makings to be something truly special but a new menu or chef is needed. read more

This place almost got a five star review. I'll explain. This was our first time at The Pearl, and we were looking forward to it, as there aren't many places for upscale dining in these parts. It was a Friday night, so we could get a reservation only for 4:30 pm. Okay, I'm fine with that. The restaurant is nicely appointed, with comfortable seats and a pleasing decor. Our server, Vee, was attentive, friendly, and efficient. Nice job, Vee. We got the baked Brie appetizer. Holy shit! That was amazing! I'd go back over and over again just for that dish. The Brie was wrapped in puff pastry, drizzled with honey, and served with crostini, apple slices, and fresh berries. Perfection. I had the grouper, with grilled asparagus and wild rice, and my husband had the sesame ahi tuna. Both were delicious. So here's why it only got four stars instead of five: while Vee said she would endeavor to get our appetizer out well ahead of our entree, that didn't happen. Our entree came out while we were just getting into the appetizer. Also, I wanted the dirty mashed potatoes rather than the wild rice, but they were out of them. How can a restaurant be out of mashed potatoes at 4:30 pm? That makes no sense. I know it's a relatively new restaurant, so I wasn't really annoyed, but Pearl, get your act together, and you'll have many more repeat customers. Liked it very much, almost loved it. read more

Interior, although new, looked very worn and dated. Zero atmosphere. The food was barely up to temp and the taste was not there and barely survived being over seasoned. Ahi tuna was very "fishy" in taste and rubbery in the mouth. Blackened chicken pasta was extremely bland and cold. Sides were forgettable to be perfectly honest, as were the appetizers of Deviled eggs and artichoke dip. If this restaurant was anywhere other than South Clinton it would be shuttered in a matter of weeks after opening. Such a swing and a miss. Clinton deserves better. It will be interesting to see how long it remains with current management. read more

The food was fresh and well prepared. Our appetizer of Baked Brie was perfectly prepared and the accompanying fruit and bread, was great. The only Con for this restaurant review, was that they bring out the entree when you are halfway through your appetizer. This was particularly bad in this case due to the Brie being warm as well as the entree, so which one do you let get cold? Buyer Be Ware!! Only order your entree when you are ten minutes from finishing your appetizer!! Don't trust the WATE staff to do the right thing!! I will definitely return to this restaurant but will order entrees after finishing appetizers. read more

An absolute beauty to enjoy a nice date night with your significant other, or with just a table full of good friends... The food is tasty and timely. Our service was polite, experienced and friendly. The night started with baked Brie and fruit and nuts which were divine, then we had the salmon with mango salsa, asparagus and mashed potatoes. Absolutely mouth watering. Then the husband got the sirloin , broccoli, and fries that were seriously tender and the fries were crispy. Our friends got the BBQ chicken flatbread, and the grilled chicken Celeste salad with balsamic was so fresh. We ended the night with dessert and had the funnel cake fries with Carmel and chocolate sauce and bourbon pecan pie.... It hit the spot nice and crispy with a soft warm sweetness. And the best pecan pie and vanilla bean ice cream ever. I would recommend this place to anyone. The scenery set the whole mood, the walk across the bridge to the entrance of the Pearl was absolutely breathtaking. An absolutely beautiful Park that they have that are free to the community makes this top-notch...... I would give it 10 stars but 5 is as high as I could rate it. read more

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We and another couple visited for dinner. We were seated in the upstairs dining room (kitchen on the floor below). Beautiful modern ambiance. The salmon, pork chop, chicken, and hamburger were all delicious, generously sized, and prepared with an upscale flair. But the restaurant is very disorganized, especially eating in the upstairs dining room. Our waitress missed five or six things when delivering our order, and brought them piecemeal over a period of time. My bone in pork chop was delicious but rare and had to be sent back to be cooked. All of the wait staff have to use a small elevator to get upstairs and downstairs from the kitchen below, making the traffic flow awkward and slow for a restaurant. read more

Love the place the service and the food it was amazing. Place is a great date night spot in the evening and a great lunch spot as well

Ordered the most expensive item on the menu, the $38 "thick cut" ribeye, dirty mashed potatoes, and baked Mac and cheese. It seems like there was no flavor or seasoning to any of the items. No salt and pepper offered on the tables to help. The ribeye steak was very thin, mostly fatty, and was ordered medium but came out so rare I nearly had to take a pulse to make sure it wasn't still alive. The drinks from the bar were great. The restaurant seemed clean and the staff was attentive. My issue is that if you're going to offer a $38 "thick cut" ribeye you should bring out a high quality steak, especially when I can go to Texas Roadhouse for a better quality steak for less money. I will give them another chance eventually but for my first impression I wasn't that impressed. read more

amazing food,amazing signature drinks, delicious dessert, Brice our waiter was amazing too -ambience perfection -a must stop!!