Back with my friends Everything good still, my little was excited to make his choice on kids menu. Lamb was great! read more

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The ambiance at Violi was beautiful--spacious, stylish, and nicely decorated--and my pasta was very good. Unfortunately, the service and overall vibe were disappointing. We were picking up a to-go order, but the woman at the front seemed distracted and came across as somewhat rude. I understand they were busy, but we still had to wait an additional 20 minutes. While waiting, we went to the bar for cocktails. After she finally handed us a bag, she came back and took it from us because she had given us the wrong order. The bartenders also seemed overwhelmed, and it took a while before someone noticed us and took our drink order. The cocktails were fine, but the overall experience felt disorganized and unwelcoming. Despite enjoying the food and décor, I probably would not return. read more

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My friend and I were enjoying happy hour drinks at Beatrix next door and were deciding where to go next when Violí caught our attention. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant looked incredibly inviting, and the moment I walked in, loved the interior. It feels like a little getaway to Greece right in Oak Brook.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We grabbed seats at the bar and shared a few appetizers, including the grilled eggplant and saganaki. I especially enjoyed the presentation of the saganaki--the flaming cheese added a fun and memorable touch to the experience. The portion size was moderate and paired perfectly with the other appetizers we ordered. The staff was friendly, attentive, and made us feel welcome throughout our visit. My friend enjoyed an additional glass of wine, while I finished the evening with a cappuccino, which made for the perfect nightcap. Between the beautiful atmosphere, delicious food, and excellent service, Violí was a wonderful surprise and a place I'd happily return to. read more

Violi - Greek Near Me - Oak Brook, Illinois

We really enjoyed our meal! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance was next level[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] and the service was nice, but a bit too quick at times. We felt like we were fighting to keep the plates at our table as every minute or so someone would come by to collect them as we were still eating. The food itself had some good highlights but also some room for improvement. The flavor of each dish and balance of main course and entree was well executed, but I found the oysters a bit shriveled and tiny compared to my typical experience, and the capers and olive oil in the lamb dish was a bit too generous and took away from the natural flavor of the meat. It's definitely about who you get in the kitchen that day because the desserts were fantastic, and they even helped us celebrate Father's Day by bringing out a sparkler and multiple rounds of delicious donuts! We would come back but maybe when it's a bit less busy. read more

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Service is great and polite and knows the menu well, the food is fresh and seasoned well, [[HIGHLIGHT]]we sat in the patio section which was well lit and spacious[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] ..... read more

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I've gone to Violi a handful of times now; once for a medical meeting/event where we used their private larger space, and twice more during their lunch with friends and my partner. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I've loved it thus far! It's a great, slightly nicer than typical casual so it gives a lot more "put together" vibes, but not too extremely high-end (as it's family friendly still!).[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I've had their soups, appetizers, and varieties of entrees and they've all been delicious. Their drink choices (I had one of their themed mules) are also refreshing. Service is always prompt and welcoming. Definitely recommend this place! read more

We came by for dinner with a few friends and decided to try a variety of items on the menu! The parking lot does get a bit hectic when you're there during prime time but there are plenty of parking garages if you're willing to hike over. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Once you walk in you're taken away by the fun atmosphere and beautiful decor.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The menu has a little of everything from seafood, to souvlaki, and more. Their cocktails are delish, and their deserts are always so fun to try. The menu prices are on the pricer side but you do get the quality and the experience, and great service with it. We can't wait to come back and try other menu items. read more

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I like the ambiance of Violi. I found the decor of Violi comfortable, not crammed, modern, and clean. Friendly staff greeted and seated us at 5pm on Saturday without a reservation. Caution: going later without a reservation probably would not work out well. I was a bit jealous we didn't get one of their interesting, cozy-looking round booths. Service was good, The busy waiter made sure to be at our table or inform us when he would get to us. He and bus staff kept our table clean. The seared meatballs delightfully surprised me. I expected mediocre based on past experiences at other restaurants but got delicious instead. We also had horiatiki salad, Good but not the best I have had. It could use more onion and bell peppers. Finally we had the lamb souvlaki. It was quite good on its own and it came with excellent tzasiki for dipping and a nice red dipping sauce too. My only nit here is prices but for Oak Brook prices are about par for the course. I will eat here again. read more

Violi - Grilled Meatballs Horiatiki. Souvlaki - Greek Near Me - Oak Brook, Illinois

We came here for the very first visit for a Friday meal. It definitely wasn't packed or busy, but luckily, I did make reservations ahead of time just in case. We did walk over here as we normally park on the Neiman side. We were seated immediately greeted by the nicest person at the at the front host stand. It took a while for our server to come over, and when our server finally came over, she did not introduce herself. She did not ask us if it was our first time there did not ask us or welcome us quite frankly at all. And this kind of behavior just continued throughout the meal. I should only checked in on us once did not even bother to make any recommendations or to quite frankly have any civilized personable conversation. Well, I do recognize that she had a few tables, but the restaurant was not filled. This is rather concerning for a dine Amic entity. The ambience as many have written is absolutely breathtaking and beautiful. Definitely a modern take on a Greek style. The food was absolutely delicious and came out piping hot fresh Additional concerns are that the portions are rather small for the prices. And there are other Greek restaurants in the suburbs that offer the same menu items with larger portions at similar prices. And they are also nearby. However, I will say that the service alone was a huge turn off. I am giving the four stars, simply due to ambience, location, convenience, the food, quality, and selection. Not pictured is the mango mule I ordered it is a mock tail. That was delicious too, and when that was brought to the table by your server, she literally just brought it to the table and set it down instead of perhaps saying "and here is your mango mule please enjoy." So these little efforts for hospitality in a hospitality business were completely neglected. We weren't even thanked for coming in. We weren't even thanked for trying them out. We weren't thanked for anything. Actually I was the one thinking the support staff for refilling my water once. I was never asked if I wanted another drink. I even have to pack up my own leftovers. read more

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Food and drinks were really great however felt we were getting pushed out immediately after finishing food. We were there to celebrate a birthday and they didn't do anything special, but as we walked out another table was getting sparklers and dessert. read more

Delicious happy hour menu--and even better, it's available on the weekend! The soup is both hearty and flavorful, making it incredibly satisfying. Every spoonful is packed with rich, well-balanced flavors. The grilled meatballs are a standout, with layers of flavor that complement each other perfectly--definitely one of my favorites here. The zucchini and eggplant chips are always a hit--crispy, perfectly cooked, and never soggy. read more

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This is my second time at Violi and definitely won't be our last! This time we came at night & its an experience! The sparkler show was such a fun and interactive thing to be a part of! Let's start with drinks, we ordered the tripoli & the mykonos spritz. Both were delicious, a bit overpriced, but still good overall. The presentation was very cute though! On to the food, we started with the charred octopus. They sliced it at the table, which was a cool thing to see, but the octopus was tender and flavorful. Great way to start the meal. Our two entrees were the charred filet mignon and the cast-iron moussaka. The filet mignon was cooked well, and the fries were absolutely delicious, but the cast-iron moussaka takes the cake. I loved the creamy orzo that paired well with the lamb, which wasn't gamey at all. To end the meal, we got the bougatsa which was also prepared at the table and the caramel with the phyllo pillow paired with the ice cream was amazing!! Overall the meal was expensive, so defintely not an everyday type of meal, but if you're looking for a dinner + experience for a special occasion, this would be the spot! read more

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Love the variety of options. For the adults the food was great but smaller portions than expecting. Kids menu we had ordered steak and it came out too hard and tough for the kiddo to eat. Had came for a celebration and was asked if there's anything we're celebrating. What was the point of asking if not doing anything special.The table next to us got a mini celebration dessert where we did not. Overall, a bit disappointed not what was expected. read more

Violi - Greek Near Me - Oak Brook, Illinois

Incredible food, [[HIGHLIGHT]]beautiful restaurant[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], very polite service, loved that everything I was interested in ordering was available at lunch. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Aesthetics were a 10/10[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]The place is very cute and aesthetic.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Went on a friday night so very busy but food came at a reasonable time. Our waitress was very kind and the food was delicious. We tried everything for restaurant week. read more

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Happy Hour Review! Still thinking about my time with friends last night at Violi! This restaurant is within the Oak Brook Mall. Parking was a bit challenging but they do offer valet. From the moment you step "inside", I was floored at how beautiful it was. There are so many floral and lighting accents on the outdoor patio before entering inside to gorgeous wooden features, more amazing lights, and an elevated Mediterranean atmosphere. The host was so welcoming and was immediately sat. The good vibes didn't stop at the door with Todd as our server. He was very persistent on checking in on our table, made great suggestions on food and drinks, and kept us laughing all night. The busers were also on top of water refills and clearing plates. For drinks, my group ordered all three Signature Drinks. I got The Karpouzi and loved it! It was fruity, refreshing, but still had a spirit bite. The Hades wasn't very spicy and had great flavor and Hera's Elixir was delicious but a bit tart. My only drawback was that these three drinks are prebatched to help the bar out. For food, we got a variety of dishes: Saganaki, Spanakopitakia, Grilled Meatballs, Crispy Zucchini & Eggplant, Fresh Oysters, and Tzatziki Spread. When I say there wasn't a bad dish, wow! Some of the Happy Hour portions are smaller but that can be expected. We also tried the Bougatsa (signature dessert) and Sokolatopita- amazing! Overall, I had the best time trying Violi. The inside is beautiful, staff were great, and food/drinks really impressed me. Highly recommend trying out this happy hour soon! read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]My favorite detail of this restaurant is that it gives you two different vibes, depending on what you're going in for.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]You first walk into the more romantic, dim lit area that's nicely heated.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]When you go to check in to the "main area" or inside of the restaurant, it's so bright. Very white and cream tones with those woven basket-like light fixtures.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] My husband took me for my bday tonight so we went with the more romantic option and I loved it! Our server was so sweet and available, always checking in. The food was delicious! I love a good seafood pasta. [[HIGHLIGHT]]And everyone, well the customers, sang happy birthday when they saw me holding the sparklers.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] And to top it off when they gave me my birthday dessert, the server was guessing my age, saying I was 21 only because I was drinking, so I have to give them 5 stars. Joking aside this was a great restaurant and wonderful first time experience. read more

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Their food was incredible...the plate with the four different sauces, especially the caviar sauce was so delicious. I ordered the lamb souvlaki, and everything in it was so flavorful! read more

I was very impressed with this place! Came here for a work event and LOVED everything that they brought out. The meatballs and hummus (separate items lol) were my top favorites. I'll definitely be back here next time I'm in the Chicago burbs. read more

Violi - Deconstructed Pastitsio - Greek Near Me - Oak Brook, Illinois

We had our farewell brunch here after our engagement party and it was perfect! The events team was incredibly easy to work with and quick to communicate, even on short notice. Our server was wonderful, I wish I remembered his name! He brought great energy, kept our glasses full, and checked in often. As a half-vegetarian group, we had an appetizer heavy order and every single dish was a hit. The dips and pita were the first to disappear and everyone enjoyed their entrées too. We ended up staying longer than planned just because the vibe was so relaxed and the service was consistent the entire time. Our celebration here was a really lovely way to wrap up our big weekend. Highly recommend for groups or anyone looking for a stress-free brunch spot. Cherry on top - the interior is gorgeous! read more

Got the seafood linguine here. The pasta was a bit overcooked and the seafood was just ok. It's definitely very overpriced. I also got a bottle of water for $8 which is mind blowing here. read more

Stopped by Violi for a last minute late lunch with a friend and was seated without a wait. The restaurant is very beautifully decorated with greens and bougainvillea. We happened to be there during happy hour, which had smaller portioned menu starter items priced at $8. We ordered everything but two food items off the happy hour menu. - SPANAKOPITAKIA (5/5) crispy and flakey phyllo with flavorful feta and spinach filling - CRISPY ZUCCHINI & EGGPLANT (2/5) it was soggy and not seasoned - FRIED HALLOUMI & HONEY (5/5) delicious - CRISPY CALAMARI (5/5) decent portion, the caper tartar sauce paired well with the calamari - $1.50 FRESH OYSTERS (4/5) fresh and sweet, very small oysters, presentation was great - TARAMA WITH BLACK CAVIAR (1/5) the tarama tasted like mayonnaise but I appreciated the fresh crudités We left stuffed! Our total before tip was $50. Service was great. Overall a great happy hour experience. Would consider returning to try their mains! read more

Violi - Greek Near Me - Oak Brook, Illinois

I absolutely love this place!! I've been here so many times and it never disappoints! Huge thank you to Todd for making our experience even better with his sweet and attentive energy. We really appreciated the heads-up about the oyster happy hour too! Violi is my go-to spot to visit with my mom or my best friend. The lunch specials are such a great deal, and the oysters are always our favorite. And we can't forget our go-to drink is the Aphrodite. it's amazing! read more

Violi - I ate an oyster before I took the pic! lol - Greek Near Me - Oak Brook, Illinois

As a former restaurant owner I am very picky about where I spend my hard earned money. I will give the Greek food at Violi 10 stars! The service ZERO. The gentleman was not rude however we felt like we were intuding in his space. He tossed the menus at us without saying a word. (we were at the bar) then he walked away. About three minutes passed and he said "you know what you want"? I just didn't feel the love. Not a hello...Have you dined with us before? Nothing. It was to say the least "uncomfortable" Another guy came over and he was really friendly and helpful. His name was Alex I believe. Anyway whoever your chef is a keeper! read more

Excellent service, Great food. We definitely will return to the restaurant again. The food was very tasty, fresh and plentifu.

Food was amazing like always , Greek food is one of the best in the world. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambience it's always nice and warm[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] the only thing is that the service was just ok . We celebrated woman's day and I feel like the server was not having to much patience and time for us to enjoy the night . read more

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Delicious food and excellent service! Everyone was so friendly and knowledgeable! We visited for our wedding anniversary. read more

Violi - Steak Souvlaki - Greek Near Me - Oak Brook, Illinois

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We went to try the happy hour as a way to get a taste for the food. Their happy hour is every day and throughout the entire restaurant, just check the hours. Their happy hour service was outstanding and the food did not disappoint! The space itself is so well decorated and the lighting is amazing. The music was perfect for the space, felt like we were at a restaurant in the city. All of the food was fabulous, the tarama was a touch fishier than I'm used to, but still pretty good. The zucchini and eggplant chips were wonderful, and the spanakopita was amazing! My fave was the $1 oysters. I love that there's a place I can go to often for the oyster special. I'm so happy to have found this place! It looks like there's a private room in the back that could seat a good sized party. It would be great for a work event or shower. I can't wait to go back! read more

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Everything I had here was 10/10. Great food, service and ambiance. The chicken dish I got was excellent. The presentation, taste, and quantity all exceeded expectations. The chicken was perfectly cooked, the lemon sauce was unique, and the potatoes were peppery and cooked right. The octopus was great and the Greek fries were crispy and paired well with the sauce they gave. The ambiance was also bright, warm, and welcoming. Great service too. read more

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In a word, unique. If you're looking for a true experience in Mediterranean dining this is the place. It's not your typical gyros and souvlaki house. Everything has an uncommonly unique flare to it. [[HIGHLIGHT]]From the time you walk in the door, it's magical especially now during the holidays.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]We sat in the indoor patio area that was cozy and well heated.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We were greeted by our server who was so chatty and wonderful and made great suggestions and described the menu items perfectly. We started with Cocktails from the bar, which took a while to come but understand it's the holiday season and the restaurants around Oak Brook Center are very busy right now, more than usual. We started with the dips appetizer which came with tzatziki, spicy feta, hummus, and tarama. It also included pita, lavash flatbread and crudites. Each was served in a dish and perfect for mixing flavors if you wanted to. Next we had the saganaki which our waiter mentioned to try a piece wrapped in pita (the first time I've ever done that), and it tasted a bit like grilled cheese and also cut the saltines of the saganaki however, I love saganaki anyhow so I was eating it pita or no pita. The portion was generous, and there was plenty for two of us to eat. It came to the table flaming set down and we were able to put out the flame on the saganaki ourselves with a lemon wedge. That's a nice touch because I like my saganaki a bit more chard than most people. For dinner. I split the slow roasted lamb gyros which was like a deconstructed gyros, each part of it had its own dish and the meat was shredded and seasoned just like off the spit meat would taste. I wish it would've had a bit more salt, but I could've added that if I wanted it, however, the shaved red onion, tzatziki, tomato which was diced and beautifully seasoned and a small cup of a lemon consume was served alongside as well. There were two pitas that our server suggested to open like a pocket and fill with all the ingredients. It was truly a one of a kind experience in eating a gyros. Last for dessert, we had Loukoumades (greek fried donuts) which came with four different dipping sauces, and they were out of this world. Be sure to make a reservation, this place fills up. read more

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I've been wanting to try this place ever since it opened, especially after hearing such great things about their happy hour--unfortunately, we missed it this time! The interior of the restaurant is super cute, but we opted to sit outside, which was a nice experience too. I believe the outdoor seating is heated, making it comfortable. I've also heard that on weekends, the place transforms into more of a lounge vibe with a DJ, which sounds fun! We visited on a Tuesday night, and it was still pretty busy, which speaks to its popularity. Here's what we ordered and my ratings: * Charred Octopus: 5/5 stars (absolutely fantastic!) * Horiatiki Salad: 3/5 stars (sadly, it was missing cucumbers) * Chicken Thigh Souvlakia: 5/5 stars (perfectly cooked) * Beef Tenderloin Souvlakia: 5/5 stars (so flavorful!) The menu has a tapas-style setup, which I loved--it's perfect for sharing and trying a bit of everything. Overall, the food, service, and ambiance were all excellent. I'd definitely love to come back! read more

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I was very disappointed. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Today was my 10year anniversary they sat us all the way on the back of the restaurant.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I asked the host Vanessa if she can move us to the patio or a different place but she said she couldn't... [[HIGHLIGHT]]I wanted today to be special and enjoy the view. Instead we sat in a room that looks like baker square.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I immediately felt sad and started crying because I wanted my date with my husband to memorable and instead I had a view looking at the register for my 10year anniversary. Violi had other tables but Vanessa did not care. I'm never coming here again. Also when I put a reservation I told them it was my anniversary. I don't want anyone special occasion get ruined this is why I'm writing this review. I'm beyond devastated. read more

Violi - Greek Near Me - Oak Brook, Illinois

NEVER order delivery from this restaurant. Three of our last four orders have been incorrect. Items get left off entirely, salads are sent without dressing, and when you call to talk to someone for help (like I did on Thursday when my order was wrong) you get sent to voicemail and no one bothers to call you back. It's a shame because the food is good on the rare occasion that they get it right. read more

Violi - My salad with shrimp, but they forgot the shrimp... and the dressing. - Greek Near Me - Oak Brook, Illinois

Upon arrival I was seated fairly quickly with a reservation. The atmosphere was beautiful reminded me of Lyra in West loop. The drink options were nice. I had a tequila with blood orange liquer and pistachio lemon it was delicious. I ordered the octopus for an appetizer and it was in a cream sauce cooked perfectly however the sauce was excessive and a too much lemon like flavor. I would have rather had the sauce on the side. My dinner the lamb chops were standard size and cooked well also. My friend ordered filet mignon which was cooked well but her potatoes were cooked too hard and she asked for another set and those came out hard as well. She felt like her food was off on this day...maybe a different chef. Her truffle fries she enjoyed and they weren't extra hard. Great attentive servers and atmosphere. read more

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Updated review... still fabulous! Dined in again and loved my food and experience. Still trendy and great food, service was great just like last time I was here. We started with the grilled octopus which was excellent. My husband and I decided to order the moussaka and chicken thigh souvlakia and they were perfect to split. I could honestly bathe myself in that tzatziki sauce. Since I was here last time, the portions got bigger, they are definitely nicer portions now. Improved but same great dining experience! Great gem in Oak Brook. read more

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I love Mediterranean food! Dinner was wonderful cocktails delightful too! Service was excellent Mike our waiter took great care of us. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambiance was electrified by the handheld fireworks they gave us.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Loved the vibes on the patio.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Great place to enjoy with loved ones[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Sat in their covered patio for a business lunch and had a good time. The patio was bright, lively and cute. My guests and I split some apps and salad and all got soup as well. We thought everything tasted fresh and great. I'd like to come back and try an entree next time! read more

Violi - Delicious soup - Greek Near Me - Oak Brook, Illinois

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The good: nice atmosphere, excellent food (we enjoyed the rock shrimp, octopus, and saganaki for appetizers, and my halibut entree was absolutely delicious and filling.) The ok: Service was average - not bad, and not outstandingly good. I tried the Aphrodite cocktail, which sounded interesting with tequila, orange liqueur, and pistachio. Definitely tasted interesting, but a little heavy on the nutty notes. The bad: I made a reservation for a business meal for 6 PM on a Wednesday. My coworker arrived 10 minutes early, and the restaurant informed her that the reservation had been cancelled! I had even reconfirmed the reservation the evening prior! We did ultimately get a table in time. I didn't get an Opentable notification about the cancellation until 6:18 PM. Also, partway through our meal, they cranked up the club music pretty loud and it became a little hard to hear the conversation at our table. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance and service was excellent[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], however, we had a party of four, three of which were Greek. We ordered a mix of items on the menu, and we're not impressed with most of it. We tried the deconstructed pastitsio and did not enjoy it at all, found that there were a lot of traditional basic Greek items missing such as a simple village salad. Of all of the Saganaki that I tried, this one had somewhat of a lumpy texture and we couldn't even finish it. It tasted weird. The ambience and server were nice, but I don't think we will be returning at all because the food was not Greek at all. It was just a Chef who was trying to provide a fancy twist on some Mediterranean food. I also may have misread this in an article, but after tasting the deconstructed pastitsio and noticing the meat flavor was a little weird I thought I read somewhere that you had halal meat options. If this is the case, you really need to pick and choose what kind of food you're making because it will affect the flavor. All four of us agreed that we will not be returning. read more

This was my first visit. Everything about this place was above fantastic. I completely recommend that everybody must come here. The food is delicious. The service was beyond excellent. Everyone is really above and beyond polite and nice. It's so nice inside. I had the best time. read more

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