Great ambiance. Sweet little place on the middle of nowhere. Service was okay, but we waited twenty minutes for our check after we got our take away container. They seem very understaffed. Musscles were excellent. Mozzarella croquettes were good. They were out of two big menu items at opening on Saturday, that was disappointing. Prime rib is EXTREMELY smokey, and can't be served rarer than medium rare. New York strip was ordered medium rare, but arrived at table medium to medium well. I'm sure it was cooked properly at first and sat under the warmer- there is no way a chef would overcook a steak like that. All in all, for 200+ bucks it was pretty underwhelming. read more

Speakeasy is the perfect name for this steakhouse! You walk into an old beat up building through an old beat up door then immediately walk through a little bit nicer door and bam, you're in a fine dining, white linen table cloth restaurant! Taylor was amazing, our bartender made perfect martinis and the food was off the charts! The shrimp cocktail was six of the biggest shrimp ever, the Chicken Dianne was rich and delicious and hubby's Wagyu Ribeye was spectacular! The show stealer was the pork belly, it was rendered to the perfect melt point with a flavor all it's own, no sweet sauce, just pork! It's in the middle of nowhere but oh so worth the trip! read more

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One of the more unique places I've been and I'm glad I went. I recently took a new job on the road and it has brought me to new spots in the US I have not been yet. I always take advantage of that by trying out the local fare. This place was special and deserves all the stars! It is at the corner of 3 or 4 farm roads kind of in the middle of nowhere. You walk through a series of doors before entering the hostess area. It was dim lit as you would expect a speakeasy to be and I was greeted immediately. I was by myself and the bar was open so that's where I went. It was busy and had I been with more people we would have needed a reservation.. it was pretty busy. I ordered the house special drink which was a dirty martini with blue cheese olives and it was perfect. I then ordered the 9oz sirloin which you can have it with just the normal seasoning or they have a list of ways you can get it like Oscar, béarnaise.. etc. I got it with a red wine mushroom reduction and it also comes with a salad and 1 side. All the dressings are house made and I picked mashed potatoes and brown gravy. The steak was cooked just the way I asked which was medium rare, it was juicy, seasoned well and the red wine reduction just added to the deliciousness. The mashed potatoes were buttery, soft, light and airy and the brown gravy wasn't overly salty and was perfect! I would love to bring my wife to this place if I'm ever in that area. I might even take a trip just to go to that place! read more

The Speakeasy - 9pz sirloin with red wine mushroom reduction; Mashed potato's with brown gravy - New American Near Me - Holdrege, Nebraska

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We liked our dinner here but wouldn't make the effort to come back unless we were driving near it via the interstate on a trip. The salads were nice, good homemade dressing and they serve lovely bread and butter-I'd give those a Nebraska 4-4.5. The truffle potatoes were super dry, tasted nothing like truffle and almost impossible to swallow without a swig of water in your mouth. The prime rib was smoked so long there was almost no flavor except smoke. Perhaps some people like that but I just felt like I was getting colon cancer with every bite, plus they were full of fat too. I'd say at least 1/3 of the meat was fat in everybody's and you saw lots of picking and spitting. That makes a meal really annoying and a bit embarrassing. The baked potatoes were ok. Nothing to write home to mom about. The cocktails were ok, standard and a very light pour. Nothing fancy, no big ice cubes (lots of little melting ones making it hard to drink the cocktail) or higher quality garnish which one might expect for the price. Decent wine list. The environment is fine. It appeared clean in the restaurant, the bathroom and outside. Love the lower level lighting and tablecloths. Be careful walking in the second front door, there's a pretty big slope down. Fun history and very genuine, friendly, informative wait staff. Small town feel and quite busy. You can tell folks in the area love it. read more

Great service - great FOOD! Always come when we're back in the area!! Never disappoints - out in the middle of nowhere and always busy.

I had heard of this restaurant for years and was really looking forward to going! We were taking my mother out for her 81st birthday. When we arrived it wasn't very busy yet. Just a few small tables. Our drink server was very nice & friendly. Our primary server was not. She didn't smile and seemed stressed. We had the salad and they were good. I had the Sacramento Strip. It was cold. The bleu cheese butter didn't melt or soften. I didn't send it back because it would've ended up over-cooked. My side was the broccolini with Bearnaise sauce. I discovered I do not like Bearnaise sauce, lol. The broccolini was over cooked. My mother had the New York Strip and she liked the flavor but it was also tough. My husband had the smoked rib eye (the special). He really liked his steak and it was perfectly cooked. The restaurant charges an extra 4% for credit cards (with we knew in advance). They also do not accept out of state checks. It was expensive for a mediocre meal. read more

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Food was great but prices a little steep, service always with a smile and usual it started getting a little noisier as the even went on.

Eating at the speakeasy is wonderful. My server Beth was sensational. I called and Eric sent me up up top by the bar area and even though I came in and ran a closing they were more than happy to make sure I got a good meal. Beth recommended The shrimp cocktail and being in East Coast person. I had to try it. The oversize shrimp was delicious. I just wish there was more cocktail sauce in the martini glass. The cocktail sauce was delicious as worth the shrimp. I ordered the filet mignon with a salad oil and vinegar and Broccolini in béarnaise sauce. The timing of the food came out perfect, the fillet was cooked, medium, rare and everything tasted wonderful. I usually end a spectacular evening with New York style cheesecake but decided to try something different, The Po de crème. It was a little sweet for my taste just because I don't like sweet things. But it was delicious. Extremely delicious. Beth checked on me multiple times to make sure things were going OK. I enjoyed the atmosphere, the music and the white tablecloth setting. I was amazed how wonderful Beth was And as I was getting ready to pay, she dropped off a small cheesecake for me to take home. When I finish paying, I found out through Erica that Beth is the Baker of their desserts. I am looking forward to a late night snack with her cheesecake and caramel drizzle. A delicious dinner, wonderful staff and a delicious meal. read more

OMG and a 10 out of 10. Really interesting menu, perfect service, affordable prices. What more can you ask for. Who would've thought a place this good is in Sacramento Nebraska: population three. I had the chicken fried steak. It was the best I've had in many years. My wife had the lowland boil, and it was also excellent. And maple crème brûlée for dessert. Reservations are highly encouraged. Sent from my mobile read more

I learned of The Speakeasy via word of mouth. I finally had an opportunity to go when my family made the trip from Omaha to Kearney for the high school cross country state championships on October 22nd. My dad, brother, and I drove the half-hour or so south to the location in the evening and arrived just before 6pm. The outside of the building is as-advertised: rustic and in the middle of nowhere. I walked in excited to try owner Ryan Puls's expertly-prepared steak. The hostess asked if we had a reservation, which we did not. She informed us they were turning tables all night and would have to ask the owner if he could squeeze us in. She came out and said we could eat as long as we ordered the prime rib. We'd come a long way and decided to stay. We ordered drinks, and the hostess took our appetizer orders. After a while, the drinks came out, but the waitress informed us Ryan yelled at her when she tried to put in our appetizer orders and that we'd only be getting the prime rib. She apologetically handed us a baguette and butter to tide us over. She then took our order (it didn't take long) and did not give us the option to choose any of the several delicious-sounding homemade toppings or sauces the menu advertised for its dishes. Luckily, we could order sides with our meat. My old fashioned had good flavor but was watered down by gas station-quality ice. The baguette was good. The meat, creamed spinach, and caramel custard dessert were GREAT and the sole source of my stars. In summary, if you want respect from the owner then place a reservation. I left feeling like a chore instead of a guest even though my meal was delicious. I also expect the little things like quality ice in my old fashioned from an expensive restaurant that holds itself in such high regard. If I'm in the area again, I'll be back so I can eat exactly what I want, but my rating will stand for these reasons. read more

The Speakeasy - Caramel custard dessert - New American Near Me - Holdrege, Nebraska

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Love the vibe. And the food was even better. Can't say good enough things about the food. Onion rings are flat out amazing. read more

The Speakeasy - Onion rings. - New American Near Me - Holdrege, Nebraska

The absolute BEST prime rib I've ever eaten! We are so lucky to have the Speakeasy! Make sure if you are wanting to try out this gem that you make a reservation (even if it's a week night). They are always busy -- for a great reason! :) It definitely has a fancier vibe. It's a great place to celebrate at! Also, lots of fun cocktails & desserts :) read more

We discovered this place through a Yelp search as we traveled across Nebraska. As a top-rated steakhouse in the middle of cattle country, we were expecting great things. And a huge steak was no disappointment! While we had a reservation, it took a minute to be recognized and seated...maybe they're lacking a dedicated host? Then once we were seated, it took another five plus minutes to get our drinks order in...we know what we wanted already since we had so much time. I ordered the large ribeye and it was delicious! Perfectly cooked...almost too much to eat in one sitting, but I was undeterred. The sides were pretty standard with nothing really to write home about. The major crack in the evening was some sort of service outage that prevented the running of credit cards, so initially they told people (after they ordered and had eaten mind you) that they'd have to pay with cash or check. In 2021 and in the middle of nowhere, that meant one customer actually did make the 30+ minute round trip to the closest ATM. Eventually, they relented and let folks leave their card information to be run once service was restored. I saw the charge come through the next day with no issue. Oh, and there's a good ghost story that goes with the place and surrounding area so that's always fun when you have a 25-minute ride amongst towering corn rows in the dark on the way home. Yikes! ;) read more

They cancelled my elderly family's Thanksgiving at 8:30pm the night before Thanksgiving! I made the reservation a month in advance and confirmed with them twice throughout the month of November. Trying to find another reservation elsewhere on Thanksgiving was impossible. The hometown hospitality was definitely lacking at this restaurant! read more

I was visiting from Chicago and heard about this place. What an experience. I've ordered my share of steaks, but this was one of the most perfectly cooked steaks (filets) i've ever had. In fact, everything was perfect. My party ordered the coconut shrimp and prime rib...both excellent. We also had the mussels and pie. All excellent. The best part? affordable! Cocktails were less than half the price of a Chicago steakhouse. Our waitress and the service she provided was excellent. Perhaps one of the best hidden gems in Nebraska. read more

My husband and I are new to Holdrege and wanted to find a classic place that we enjoy. I can't even begin to tell you how awesome our experience was. We came in on St.Patty's day and even with them serving 50 in the back we got our food promptly and everything was DELICIOUS. We decided on the specials which came with clam chowder soup. I finished my soup after my husband and that's saying something since I normally finish in half the time he does. It was THAT good that I truly savored every bite! Then our main dishes came out and they definitely hit the spot! If you are coming through town or a local you have to stop here for a bite to eat! It is well worth it for the quality and taste alone! We will definitely be regulars! read more

The Speakeasy - Deliciousness - New American Near Me - Holdrege, Nebraska

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Drive 2 hours to come eat here. Nothing online about reservations required. Arrived and were rudely told they were booked for the night. Very disappointing as we had heard good things about this place. Maybe have some tables for walk in and don't turn people away. Went to another restaurant and were greeted warmly and seated and served immediately. Don't recommend speakeasy read more

It doesn't come any better from the bar to the table and the people. Problem is too many people do not appreciate or know what great food is. Take Lincoln,; Burger King, Popeye's, Valentino's Taco Bell and Long John Silver's is considered fine dining. I dined out across the US and when I'm near The Speakeasy or ready for a road trip, that's the first place I go. read more

I love the Speakeasy!! The 40's swing music playing softly in the background sets the mood for a relaxing evening. The wait and bar staff are always very friendly and know the menu well. Erica, the hostess, bartender and waitress always has big smile and friendly conversation. Ryan, the owner and chef really knows his way around the kitchen!! His meat selection is magnificent and his sauces are to die for!! My favorites are his Prime Rib with Oscar Sauce and for dessert his Pot De Creme. My husband's favorite is the Sirloin with the Red Wine Demi Glacé. You can't go wrong no matter what you order. read more

In a restaurant founded long ago and far away in the fields outside of Holdrege, Nebraska, one can enjoy the perfect steak and classic ambience for which old school dinner clubs were known. The added plus is the place is haunted by the likes of Faceless Fred; slain by a jealous wife for his flagrant philandering. I went for the ribeye medium rare with the added joy of their perfectly executed Brussels Sprouts. The Speakeasy is cool, dark and rich with tradition not to mention exceptional Nebraska steak. I've already plotted my 680 mile return to a new favorite "haunt". read more

The Speakeasy - an aerial view of a farm - New American Near Me - Holdrege, Nebraska

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So amazing!!! Food was incredible! Service was on point and ambiance was delightful. We are from Arizona and will stop here at least once per visit. What a gem read more

We went to the Speakeasy two weeks ago. The steaks and burgers are excellent. We went with two other couples. Everyone really enjoyed their meal. It's not a cheap location, but we always enjoy the meal. It's worth the 30 minute drive south of Kearney. read more

I was here for my job. So I sat at the bar and the staff was very kind and friendly. I started off with the mussels. Flavor of the broth was great and the crispy French bread that came with it was very good. My only dislike of the dish was a lot of the shells were crushed in the broth. So you had to be very careful that you didn't eat any shells. Not sure why most of them were broken up. My fillet was cooked perfectly and the sear on it was so good. It honestly did not need the sauce. The flash fried brussels sprouts were the best. Very enjoyable evening. read more

Unlike other reviewers, our experience was not entirely pleasant. I thoroughly enjoyed my shrimp cocktail appetizer and my cheeseburger (despite the fact at 5pm on a Saturday evening they had already run out of hamburger buns). My companion, however, sent her chicken back because it tasted funny and had a weird texture ... it was undercooked and showing pink on the inside. That apparently displeased the chef: though he didn't come out himself, he sent our server. "The chef told me to inform you the chicken was properly cooked." Wow. Attitude? Sure came across that way. Was she offered a replacement? No, though she did request a bowl of soup. Overall, the evening was a disappointment. Dimly lit is fine but a flashlight needed to read the menu? Really? The servers seemed lifeless; they tolerated us but were not particularly friendly and gave no sign they were glad we had come. I always carefully observe the waitstaff...there wasn't a smile to be seen from any of them and, frankly, they seemed the happiest when customers paid their bill and left. Not a joyful atmosphere and absolutely a place I'll avoid in the future. read more

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Again the Speakeasy doesn't disappoint. Great steak. Great hamburger and great onion rings! We always look forward to coming here when we r in town! read more

Let's get the important part out of the way first: save room for dessert. The pot de creme is amazing and the brownie is rich but the espresso ice cream it's served with tempers that. The Speakeasy is located in the boondocks so you really have to know where you are going or use GPS. The parking lot and front isn't really that well lit, so finding it at night would be hard. But the drive is worth it. Let's talk about the food: it's quality and you can tell they take a sense of pride with it. A few tables had ordered muscles (our table didn't) and that speaks volumes about the quality of the food; this is rural Nebraska after all, people wouldn't order them if they didn't like them. I think the price is reasonable. We had a table of four with two shrimp meals and two steaks. That plus three mixed drinks, a glass of wine, and a can of beer (they don't have bottles due to storage issues), and two desserts came to just shy of $120, not including tip. It's a reasonable treat. It feels upscale but it's not suit and tie. The food is high quality but the place isn't pretentious. It's a rural steakhouse that you really have to know about but is welcoming to everyone. read more

I'm sure that at one time, the Speakeasy was a true "hidden gem" near Holdrege. However, now the proverbial cat is out of the bag; it is well known and highly regarded in the region. Deservedly so, based upon our visit -- we enjoyed a wonderful dining experience with well-prepared dishes and excellent service. It's no surprise that the establishment was busy, but we didn't feel rushed or lacking attention. If you are anywhere nearby, I would highly recommend dining here. read more

I will never be happy with another steak. I heard about this place from work. I made the drive to the middle of no where. It was so worth it. The place is 100% the best. If you decide to visit this place remember it's by reservations only and be prepared to have the absolute best steak of you life. read more

Always a good time. Come early for drinks at the bar. Save room for dessert, if possible.

Pros: - Friendly Staff - Amazing Food (I've never had a better steak anywhere else) - Reasonable Prices (Most steaks at restaurants cost 2x as much and still don't taste as good) - Nice atmosphere and love the music Cons: - I think a waitress forgot something (those things happen) but after a quick reminder she was back with the missing dish. read more

This place has been around forever and I could've sworn it used to be called the Sacramento Club, but my wife said it's always been called the Speakeasy. It's in Sacramento Nebraska, a ghost town now, but a unique place for such a nice restaurant. . We'd recently read it was getting some publicity based on the son of the owner returning to run the place after he left years ago to follow his own dreams in the big city. He's done some updating to the menu, experimenting with some different turns on standard dishes and come up with a good menu that has the regular steakhouse standbys along with some more creative dishes. After we were seated a bevy of high school age girls were setting up water, bread and taking drink orders. The real server showed up some time later and took our orders. Their onion rings made a great appetizer. Apparently they're known for those. Almost everyone at the table ordered prime rib in some fashion or the other (it was the special too). I had a filet and my wife salmon. There are other smaller things like sandwiches you can order too, but it's a steakhouse. It was an above average meal. I think if I went back soon I'd try one of the more creative items on the menu. The service though, was a little spotty. The server was absent a lot when she should have been there. Didn't check up on us after we'd received our food (again served by support staff), didn't follow up with asking about additional drink orders, etc. She might have been busy doing something else but I didn't see her anywhere nearby for most of the night. When we were ready to go we were told they'd have our individual checks at the cash register. They didn't really have a check, but the server added up numbers on a calculator off her order pad. When I said it was higher than I expected she said she'd added 20% because of our large group. It still was about $20 higher than I thought, but I did have a couple of beers which may have affected my math skills. It was a fun experience overall. The food and support was good but the server needed a little more direction. We'll definitely try it again as we go through this area a lot. The novelty of the place alone makes it a worthwhile stop. read more

We were visiting our daughter in Holdrege and she suggested the place. Amazing! The steaks literally melted in our mouths. Service was great, ambience was intimate and low lit, with no TVs blaring or obtrusive music. On the way out we were lucky enough to talk to the owner and let him know what a great experience we had. Onion rings were excellent, the cauliflower puree was delish, and again, the steaks were buttery and oh so tender. We will be back next time we visit the area! read more

My husband made reservations for my birthday. We had 7 o'clock reservations and had to drive over an hour to get there to find out they were out of so much food, no chicken, no bread, and what food we did order was not cooked to order. paid $80 for 1 cocktail, small prime rib, 2 side salads that were small, and a small baked potato that was supposed to be loaded, but only came with butter and sour cream and chives in the butter, not even cheese. worst birthday supper ever. dont waste your time or your money. read more

Chef Ryan and his staff do an Excellent job at this diamond in the rough it's the middle of nowhere Nebraska. We recently booked a party for 21 as an after the holidays Christmas party. We called ahead and let them know how many were going to be in attendance and when we arrived the staff had everything set up for us and greeted us with smiles. Every member of the staff was very helpful and friendly. I only heard excellent and rave reviews from every member of our party. The quality and preparation of the food is unparalleled. Everything is homemade and the chef has great culinary skills and takes pride in his Craft, which is definitely refreshing for this part of the state. Chef Ryan is also known to come out to check to see how everybody is enjoying their meals and they are constantly striving to make the customers experience better. I am sort of a snob when it comes to the doneness of a steak or prime rib and this place nailed it on everyone's order to the exact temperature that was requested! When I order a steak medium rare or a little bit less done than that I expect it to be as such and not to be over cooked like mist places tend to do. My meal was cooked to perfection. I have also recently had the Nashville Hot Chicken here and it was Phenomenal. In conclusion I think the Speakeasy, near Sacramento Nebraska, is a must visit and not just once. I've been to many well acclaimed restaurants and I believe that the Speakeasy could hold its own with any of them. The pricing is reasonable and the food is to die for. I have been here many times but this is the first yelp review I have done (new user) and I will say that each and every time that I have been here I've got the exact same service and outstanding food. Consider the Speakeasy for your next night out! read more

I am sitting in the speakeasy in Holdredge Nebraska and I have enjoyed a beautiful bottle of Siduri Pinot Noir Willamette Valley , walleye fish and the wagu beef special. lovely wine. The customer service was outstanding Taylor , Erika and Britney have made this an experience I did not think would happen here in Holdridge. all staff just waited on us hand and foot the place is popping with smiles good to cheer. A must if you like like exceptional food and an atmosphere that is rich with heritage and ask about the ghostly guest that sometimes entices you to ask the question .... have you ever seen him? We will be back. read more

My clan is from Nebraska and we all met up at this out-of-the-way steakhouse for a reunion dinner. The place is rather unimpressive from the outside. Dirt parking lot with a couple of hungry-looking stray mongrels running around. Once you get inside, however, things start to shape up. I had a tough time deciding between the prime rib, the rib eye, and the New York. After a significant amount of mental rumination, I went with the New York, medium, with baked potato and salad. The salad wasn't anything special--mainly iceberg lettuce--and the tater was certainly not a jumbo, but those deficiencies were quickly forgotten after one bite of the steak. Nebraska beef is just about the best you can ever eat...ever. My New York was more than an inch thick and cooked perfectly. It literally melted in my mouth. My pops got the prime rib and it awesome. He didn't finish it, and it was all I could do to keep from sneaking his leftovers onto my plate. If you ever find yourself in this part of NE and you're hungry for a satisfying slab of meat, Speakeasy should be at the top of your todo list. read more

My initial review (which you can read below) of this place was less than spectacular, I received an email from the new manager of this restaurant telling me that it was under new management and asking for another shot at it, it was very thoughtful of him to do that and I am glad I gave it another chance. The menu looks to have been revamped, I don't exactly remember what it looked like before but I'm pretty sure nothing had a demi-glace, so good on the new manager for doing that, it needed it. Onto our dining experience, it was a Friday evening and it wasn't crowded at 6pm, it was getting pretty busy by the time we left, but it wasn't bad at all. My wife and I ordered the onion rings as recommended by our server, they were excellent, seem to be home made (not frozen) and they give you about 4 lbs of them so there were plenty if we wanted to take them home. I ordered the 14 oz prime rib with soup and mashed potatoes and my wife ordered the fried shrimp with salad and mashed potatoes with white gravy. The soup that night was butternut squash, it was excellent, very flavorful with a wonderful texture, I would go back just for the soup. My prime rib was perfect, seriously perfect, perfectly cooked and tender, great seasoning on the crust, not too much fat, one of the best prime rib cuts I've ever had, it was so good that the au jus they serve with it is unnecessary...get the prime rib if they have it. The shrimp my wife got were enormous and I think she got like ten of them, she is more skeptical than I am of most places and she agreed that we will definitely be back. Living in central Nebraska it's very difficult to find a place that you really enjoy, most places cut corners to some extent because we don't have the population base of Lincoln or Omaha so the food is not as fresh as those places may have. I am very excited that we may have found "our" place, thanks to the gentleman who asked me to give this place another chance, I am raising my review from 2 to 4 stars, but if the level of service and quality I received last night is any indication, I will raise it to 5 stars. Original review follows: If you can't say something nice, then you shouldn't say anything at all. That being said, the onion rings here a fantastic. If you're part of the population that doesn't exclusively eat onion rings however, you're in for a disappointment. Everything I've ever tried here with the exception of the steak has been bland, over battered, over cooked, or just plain bad tasting. The steak has been the exception, it is good but it is waaaaay overpriced, I think a 14-16 oz Ribeye will run you around 25 bucks the last time I was in there, I've got no problem paying that much for a near prime cut that is well cooked, but this meat is probably bargain basement black angus and in no way, shape, or form, should cost 25.00 The staff is very nice, Peggy is a darling and a very good waitress, this place would be great if the priced reflected the quality of the product, in my opinion however, it does not and should be avoided. read more

I was told about The Speakeasy by a few people. It did not disappoint! My steak was perfectly cooked to a medium-rare. My Brussel sprouts were fried to perfection. By far the Old-fashioned I've ever had! The decor fit the setting. Personally I enjoy how "out of the way" it is. This will be a weekly stop for me. read more

If I could leave more than 5 stars I would have!!! This place was truly amazing. Reservations are recommended so we did that which made everything go so smoothly as it was very busy. The drink & app waitress came and we ordered a couple drinks & Artichoke Dip (there is no spinach because it's artichoke dip) and it was so very good. Then shortly after, our meal waitress took our order and we ordered the Sacramento Strip which was to die for - so tender, mushroom sauce and melty blue cheese so good, will definitely order again. Also the Honey Sriracha spicy chicken sandwich with hand-cut fries which was also wonderful! Waitresses were happy and informative! Everything was just so worth the hour drive there & hour drive home! The cherry on top was that Chef Ryan came out as we were paying and shook his hand and gave him the compliments he so deserved. We will definitely be back!!! Keep up the wonderful food and business!!! read more

Wonderful mussels and very cool place off the beaten path. Great staff and nice atmosphere.