I've heard about this place from many people, that it's the best Mexican food in Idaho and they are not wrong . Can't believe this restaurant is exist here in Caldwell, ID The restaurant is beautiful, Carla our service was amazing. Had a great dinner at Amano tonight. We ordered two non-alcoholic cocktails, beef tartare, ceviche, guacamole, fish tacos, LA birria, and finished with the mole negro. Everything was full of flavor and beautifully prepared. The ceviche was super fresh, the beef tartare was balanced perfectly, and the mole negro had incredible depth and richness. The non-alcoholic cocktails were also creative and refreshing, which I really appreciated. The atmosphere was great. Definitely one of the best meals I've had in Idaho read more

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I visited Amano with a few friends on a Friday evening. I definitely loved the décor and the dim lighting inside. I ordered the carnitas plate, which was very good--the meat was extremely juicy, and I was very happy with my food. The only thing I disliked about this place is that I think the drinks are overpriced. I ordered the El Macho, which was good, but not worth $20. The lavender tres leches cake was delicious, and I would go there again just for that. read more

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Very authentic Mexican food! I'm from Oaxaca Mexico and this was truly Oaxaca's cuisine, very fresh and spicy salsas! Very cute place with great service and amenities! Highly recommend this restaurant if you want to try authentic Mexican cuisine! Cocktails were amazing , and their coffees! read more

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New to Idaho & checking out some food spots. Service- Server was very sweet & kind. Hostess, she wasn't at the front so the first 15 seconds. I thought we went through the back door as we were just looked at by servers at first. Hostess then came up and sounded confidently welcoming, if that makes sense? Though, we were sat in the inside row while everyone was sat in the outer row by the window. I was unsure how to take this, if we were being treated a bit different? Food- honestly, the hype was not hyping. The birria tacos seemed to feel like it was the dry well done ends of the meat. I had a lot better birria before. Was not worth the price. It was technically $10 a taco. I literally went there seeing good reviews about it & left fairly disappointed. The tres leches cappuccino was pretty good, not too sweet. Overall, not really worth what I spent. Could have had better for a better price. I'm just glad our server made it a good experience with her kindness. Otherwise, this whole experience would have been a 1 star. read more

Amano - Tres leches cappuccino. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Caldwell, Idaho

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Perhaps the best Mexican restaurant in Idaho. Food was absolutely exquisite! Some of the best mole I've ever had. Each dish was crafted to perfection. Highly recommend. read more

Stupendous! There is a reason this place was nominated multiple times for the James beard award and eventually won! The menu is curated perfectly well with flavors from all over Mexico. The meats are marinated an cooked underground for 16 to 30 hours. And the molé - let me just say you can drink it! My teen who was tired from vacationing (is there such a thing??) wasn't even going to eat - till the food arrived. What stole the show was the Mole Negro with short ribs. Succulent. Fall off the bone. Deep chocolatey umami flavor. As if that wasn't enough, the light and airy lavender tres leche - I can't say anymore because I'm already salivating! read more

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While reading the reviews left by other guests I realized our experience was definitely an outlier. Ambience, service and food were excellent. However our food and drink delivery was abysmal. We were a party of 6. One order was a sidecar which arrived more than 15 minutes after the rest of our party received our drinks. We requested more chips for our guac, which was excellent by the way, and that also took about 25 minutes. Finally 2 orders of carne asada were so late that we were done eating by the time our friends got their food. Our server was attentive and apologetic but it didn't change our frustrating dining experience. I will go back because although it was overpriced, the food was very good!! Hoping for better luck next time read more

The service was amazing, we had Aubrey and she was the best. We really like the ambience with all the live plants and the subtle lighting great place for a date night. I do not drink tequila but if you do, you will want to come here. The selection is vast. We sat just behind the bar and were able to watch the bartender make all the drinks and they looked amazing. All food is made in house by hand. They take their spice level quite seriously and if it says it's spicy, it is very spicy. We got the chips and salsa and the salsa was too spicy for us and we usually like mild medium. Would definitely come back and try more items on the menu. read more

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Such an amazing experience here. From the ambiance, incredible service. These by far were some of the best cocktails I've ever had. I also had the mezcal cilantro margarita. Holy cow it was so good. The food, everything was the best flavors with all the different sauces. I will 1000% be going back. Nice to find a gem like this. Been looking for good Mexican food and its hands down the best I've ever had read more

Amano - Barbacoa - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Caldwell, Idaho

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We were visiting family in Idaho and while we were traveling I saw that Chef Salvador won a James Beard award for his culinary talent. I read the article and went immediately to see about reservations which I was successfully able to secure the next day for our last meal in Idaho. There were 5 of us dining and Isaiah was our server. He was fabulous, friendly, and knowledgeable. Lots of staff to help with water, small asks, so you never feel unattended. We had the guacamole, the street corn apps to start which were both awesome. The guacamole had fresh herbs in it which was a really nice punch of fresh. I shared the conchinita pibil tacos with my guy - delicious! The order is usually 3 so we added a 4th and it was perfect! Slightly small, if I was starving it wouldn't have been enough food. We also shared the two desserts, the lavender tres leches cake was wow! Really delicious experience. Excellent cocktails. I did try the La Playa which was a seasonal option with mezcal since their specialty is mezcal and masa. Didn't disappoint! read more

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Ok- I know they just won a James Beard and that's HUGE for Idaho- BUT- I think there are other places out here with better chefs and less pretentious staff. I think James Beard awards do involve a little politics so to speak, so keep that in mind too. I went when it was in the old location, so maybe things have changed but it was not good enough for me to return. There's better places for Mexican food (and drinks) even in our area at much better prices. Maybe I was there on an off night or ordered wrong or something, but it did not live up to the hype for me. read more

Amano - L.A. Birria Taco- definitely not the best out here, but ok. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Caldwell, Idaho

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Let me begin by saying: I understand and respect that Amano is beloved, and Chef Alamilla has the awards, the NYT acclaim, and the fanbase to prove it. This review will not shake their empire in the slightest. But after my third visit--and probably my last--I have... thoughts. We had a 5:30 reservation. We were not seated at 5:30. We were also not seated at 5:38, despite seeing empty tables... staring at us. Mocking us. But fine, I can wait. What I couldn't ignore was the smell. A bold, room-filling fragrance situation--palo santo perhaps? incense? the collective spirit of Burning Man?--floating through the space like it had paid rent. Call me old-fashioned, but when I go to a restaurant, I want to smell the food, not the cleansing ritual. (I am bold enough to also say that I think fragrance worn by patrons should be banned.) Amano's website offers beautiful photography and chef storytelling, but no menus. At all. Odd for a place with this level of hype. I like to get excited about what I'm walking into, and their site gives you nothing. So I took a menu pic for future diners who prefer to preview rather than pray (noting that the menu does change). Our server had strong "I do well in tips here" energy. Not rude, just very aware of his earning potential. We told him--clearly--that not everyone at the table can handle spice. He recommended the corn/rajas appetizer as "Tapatío-level" and assured us the fish tacos could be adjusted to remove heat. It turns out his version of Tapatío is... aspirational. The corn/rajas? SPICY. Like, "did someone lose a bet in the kitchen?" spicy. The fish tacos arrived covered in hot sauce anyway, but they fixed it quickly with a sour-cream version--and honestly, those I actually enjoyed. Light, flavorful, balanced... proof they can get it right when the heat level is respected. Then the LA birria tacos--no spice symbol on the menu--came in hot. Literally. And greasy. A double plot twist. Everything is à la carte, so no rice, no beans, no gentle carb buffer--and honestly, it feels like a missed opportunity for both diner satisfaction and revenue. My husband ordered the chile colorado; he said the flavor was there and the spice was right, but the meat was fattier than expected. One more thing about the space itself: the layout is... unusual. The restaurant is essentially in the round/oval/rectangle, which feels cool until you need to find the bathroom. If you're seated on the bathroom side, great--quick escape. If you're on the opposite side, you basically have to circumnavigate the entire restaurant like you're on an exploratory voyage. There is a narrow staff walkway cutting across the middle, but it doesn't appear to be for patrons--and it's not wide enough to feel like it could be. Just an odd design choice that adds to the overall "style over function" theme. And then the bathrooms. There are four unisex bathrooms for a restaurant this busy, which either means a sociological experiment, a masterclass in logistics under strain, or design decisions made entirely on vibes. One stall I walked into right after a father and son left had urine on the floor and a toilet paper holder that had fully retired from its job. The whole thing felt more gas station than James Beard stage. Amano is clearly doing many things right--or they wouldn't be as celebrated as they are. And I genuinely applaud that. But for me? Between the incense cloud, the surprise-spice menu, the à la carte austerity, and the bathroom roulette... I think I'm good. Less palo santo, more pico de gallo. Less bathroom chaos, more beans and rice. And pretty please--just put the menu online. read more

Amano - Nov 30, 2025 menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Caldwell, Idaho

Amano was recommended to my wife and I so we thought we would try it. After completing the reservation information the site would not let me complete the reservation without a credit card number. This is unfortunate, I have to replace a credit card almost once a month anymore because my numbers are with people that cant keep my information secret. I will not ever be able to try the place due to the fact they want to charge you 15.00 if you fail to show or notify them per the cancelation rules. I, like most of you are not in the habit of making a reservation and not show up. Not even Chandlers downtown Boise is this strict. I will never try Amano strictly due to the ridiculous policy. read more

We celebrated my husband's birthday over brunch and had an excellent time. Amano has the best EVER Mexican food -- 100% authentic! We loved the service and smiles that our waiter provided. Love everything that Amano represents. Such a beautiful restaurant. Thank you again for treating us so well. We'll be back again and again! read more

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First and foremost our service was superb. We liked the fact that when our orders were brought out they explained how each dish was prepared. However, the portions were a bit small for us. We had a party of four and three of us ate again when we got home. Also it was a little too dark inside the restaurant. We probably will not be back. read more

Our dinner at Amano was an utter delight from start to finish. The ambiance is flawless - lush greenery, thoughtful lighting, and a gorgeous blend of warm Mexican oranges, high ceilings, and concrete walls that creates a stunning CDMX vibe. Our server Carla was completely lovely and expertly versed in the food and beverage menu. Ingredients are locally sourced where possible, or flown in from Mexico, and the drink syrups and juices are all made in-house from local ingredients. Not to mention they have the most extensive collection of tequila and mescal in all of Idaho. We tried the Baja fish tacos, the Carne Asada tacos, their seasonal Manzanita cocktail, and the El Guayabito cocktail. Stunning. No notes. Succulent. Next time you're in the Treasure Valley, don't miss this culinary treasure! Muchisimas gracias, Amano. read more

Amano - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Caldwell, Idaho

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I finally had a chance to try Amano in Caldwell and their new space is absolutely gorgeous. The way they have designed an open concept using plants and light to create intimacy plus the hint of smoky copal as we walked in was such a delightful surprise. Our server was so friendly (Carla- lovely!) and accommodating and made our first experience truly special. My date had the chili Colorado, which was super spicy so beware! I had the Carnitas and they were succulent and delicious. Or cocktails were creative & craft and hit the mark. We will definitely be back. read more

Amano - Carnitas! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Caldwell, Idaho

The name says it all; at Amano everything is a hand-crafted work of art. Incredible artisan cocktails with fresh squeezed juice, beautifully presented with thoughtful garnishes of Mexican lollipops and cactus leaves. The esquites appetizer was truly exquisite. Don't miss the Guacamole with herbs. The best Baja fish tacos I've ever had. Simply superb! Very friendly and knowledgeable staff that genuinely care about making your experience extra special. Every detail is perfection down to the hot towels with essential oils afterwards. The James Beard award is well deserved and it hasn't changed their service or attitude in the slightest. read more

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i've been coming here since their old location right around the corner. Their food is always on point., service in ambience is always impeccable. I pretty much had everything on the menu, but I've never had the Cochinita Pibil , so tonight was the night simply amazing. Sweet pork tacos with a habanero relish, and consume in a blue horn homemade tortilla! Wow read more

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The lavender tres leches changed my life, in the best way. It's so incredible. Plus the entire aesthetic of this restaurant really creates an atmosphere and full sensory experience that is rather unforgettable. read more

Amano - Lavender Tres Leches - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Caldwell, Idaho

5/5 - A Must-Visit Gem in Idaho! This was my second time coming to this restaurant--and let me tell you, it's absolutely worth the trip from Santa Ana, California! Hands down a 10/10 experience from start to finish. From the moment you walk in, the interior decor and cozy patio vibes immediately set the tone for a memorable dining experience. It's warm, welcoming, and beautifully designed. Huge shoutout to Sumi and Sam, our incredible servers! Sumi greeted us with the biggest smile and gave spot-on recommendations. The service was so thoughtful and attentive that we ended up staying for both Sunday brunch and dinner--and loved every minute of it. Everything--from the ambiance to the food to the service--was exceptional. This place is officially on my must-visit list every time I come to Idaho. Can't wait to come back. Until next time! read more

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Never fails to impress! So authentic and fresh, we always leave happy and full. The portions are great, options for meat lovers and vegetarian, and phenomenal cocktails. The servers are always super nice and attentive. Parking can be tricky, make a reservation, and bring a sweater in the winter (it's always cold inside). read more

Amano - Mole Verde - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Caldwell, Idaho

It's a kind of a rip. Drinks $16-20+. Guac. 16 for Two tablespoons MAYBE and comes with 2-4 chips. Queso aka garbanzo spread is 12 and 1-2 chips. Service is adequate but certainly not gratuitous and why do any better when gratuity is included. Side of rice portion is 1/4 cup MAYBE and its 6. Food cold when it came out. Lots of plants inside. Very Stingy on portions and wanted to highlight that element especially on the rice and chips and tortillas. It would go a long ways given small but good protein portions to be generous with the more cost effective accompanying elements. Drinks are good. Food is fairly complex but definitely feels like a money grab/not a good value vs peers with same accolades. Go. Order 1-2 drinks, one side/app, and one taco plate or main dish per person and it's gonna run ~100 per easy. TLDR. Moderately Good food. Very Stingy Restaurant. read more

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I heard about this place through a friend and the pictures she posted of the drinks looked good and the food too. We went for my girlfriends 40th birthday and they were all so confused about the menu they wanted me to translate since I'm Latina but the menu is so small and the drinks were actually good the food wasn't bad it did have some good flavor but I don't think this place was for me. My friends did not like it either. The service is good the assistant to the service was excellent he was very nice and had a great attitude. The place was a bit dark it's super busy and a bit tight. I was told that their old pace was better. The guacamole had more leaves than avocado and it was spicy read more

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We went back to Amano tonight for a proper sit down experience, but we chose to sit at the bar. We like the boys at the bar. They are all so accommodating, conversational, and pleasant...full of smiles. We were there for dinner, and low lighting created a lovely ambiance. I ordered a movktail and squash blossom quesadilla that was creamy and with this essence of sweet squash. It was a beautiful combo with the dark roasted salsa, which added a lot of depth to the meal. As weird as this might sound, I was quite taken with the tortilla. It was soft, chewy, a little puffy, and I could really taste the masa. Best tortilla I've ever eaten. House-made, of course! My husband ordered a molé meat dish that melted in his mouth. It melted in mine too! I've never tasted anything like it before. It was served with this charred sun choke side with a sweet cream sauce that I kind wanted to drink and dip everything in! One thing I would like to mention is the spice level. Most things on the menu are pretty spicy. Even when they say it's only a little spicy, it will be spicier than you think. The guacamole was a bit too spicy for me, but it's also delicious, so...? Fantastic food, beautiful ambiance, and impeccable service. What more could you ask for? read more

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Everything was executed to perfection! From the welcome at the front door, to the wait staff, to the AMAZING food! This is more than a meal, it's an experience!! Will be returning for more! read more

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I've been coming to Amano for years and it never disappoints. It's by far the best Mexican restaurant in the treasure valley. If you want flavor, authenticity, ambiance, and excellent service, this is the place. The James Beard award is 1000% well deserved. To the other reviewers who docked it because of price, YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. I'm sorry, but crap Mexican food like Jalapeños just doesn't cut it. No idea how you can dock Amano and rave about Jalapeños. Doesn't even compare in terms of flavor and quality. I'd rather spend more for an excellent meal than less on garbage. read more

Expensive expensive expensive. Delicious, perfect staff, amazing margaritas, elevated experience. My wife and I ordered: 2 Cadillac margaritas, 6 carne asada ala-cart beef tacos, one order of chips and salsa, and a Modelo beer to wash it down. With tip $168.00. Be ready to enjoy a one and done. read more

The food is so rich in flavor and the chef just won a James beard award. Definitely take your date here, it'll be one they won't forget read more

Amano - Menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Caldwell, Idaho

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Everything here is delicious and homemade! Definitely on the pricey side, but worth a try. The ambiance and decor is on point. Started with chips and guac + salsa. I had the carne asada tacos and the flavor was so good. Especially with the homemade tortillas. Topped with guac and salsa. Homemade horchata was one of the best I've had. Didn't have an alcoholic drink so can't speak for the taste but the presentation of my friends was beautiful. Very enjoyable experience all around. Staff were kind. read more

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When I saw how expensive this place was, I was a bit skeptical when looking for authentic Hispanic cuisines. I like to get the most value for the buck kind of deal, and to be honest, this was a good deal. Each dish averaged around $20-30 but the portion size makes it worth it. We got the birria, carne asada tacos, and chips & salsa flight to try out different sauces - it was amazing. The tacos were crisp and the flavor was mesquite enough but not too smoky to the point it was burnt. The staff was amazing in checking up on us and letting us know what each entree was and answering any questions about the history of the restaurant. Great service, great food. Oh yeah, they have a happy hour right before closing as well - so definitely take advantage of that. read more

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Way too expensive. This is Caldwell, Idaho. Not Los Angeles. Gtfo with this garbage pricing. Cocktail bar above is about $20 per cocktail as well. Do not go here. read more

This is our first visit to Amano in its new location. What a beautiful old bank building transformed into a very tasteful and cozy interior. We were greeted with a smile and the hosts were very pleasant. It was a Sunday at 5pm and the place quickly filled up. The ceilings are 30 foot tall. Not too noisy from patrons but music was a tad too loud. Our server was excellent pointing out some additions and changes to the menu. We started with some drinks. I opted for the virgin La Rebanadita which was watermelon, chamoy and tajin. Delicious, their syrups are homemade and this was not too sweet. My hubs opted for the El Macho (tequila, pablano, jalapeno and cilantro) and it was very refreshing. On to our meal. My partner and I shared the tiradito salmon appetizer. I liken it to salmon carpaccio. The sauce was a mix of sweet ( grilled pineapple) and spicy. It was a generous serving and the salmon was tender and so delicous...add a squeeze of lime to give it some needed acid to cut through the sweetness. On to entrees. I had the Carnitas plate with rice, beans, and salsa de tomatillo. The pork was served in chunks vs being finely shredded. Definitely a large serving and I loved the pickled red onions on the side. This made for great tacos on their homemade tortillas. Plenty left over for next day. My husband had the LA birria tacos. The tacos were filled with shredded beef and melted cheesy goodness. The taco shell had the crunch on the outside. The consomme was a bit flat (needed some warm spices like cinnamon, all spice or clove). We finished with the beautiful and delicious pillowy lavender tres leches cake. The lavender was subtle and the fresh blackberries bursting with flavor. Amano did not disappoint. It is very exciting to have a James Beard winner in our backyard. Congratulations on your success. read more

Amano - Tiradito Salmo appetizer and Carnitas Pork - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Caldwell, Idaho

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Beautiful environment, good service, delicious food. Worth the drive. Faves: Quesadilla Beef Tartare Guacamole Mole verde (veg) (I could eat this every day) Mole negro This is absolutely fine (but not stuffy) dining, with prices to match. I look forward to going again. read more

We had a great dinner with friends! The dinner to start with wash cloths to wash hands and of Tacos de Pescado and carnitas were exquisite! Appetizers of Esquites and salsa and chips with guacamole were great! The desert of cream pudding with toasted walnuts and caramello was delicious and hit the spot. Tres Leches dessert with Lavendaer was so tasty and not too wet or soggy. The end of dinner experience was amazing with the wash cloths heated with oils of lavender. read more

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There aren't many dining experiences where you can say literally everything was on point. Amano got it right. The food was exceptional in taste & presentation. We ordered the Tiradito de Salmon, Birria tacos, Baja Cali fish tacos & the Tres Leches cake. My NA Paloma was both beautiful & delicious. Special shoutout to Faith & Emma who treated us like guests in their own home. You are doing great, Faith!! And also to Isaiah, who took the time to give us a tour of Amano. What an impressive young man. This place has a casual vibe serving upscale food with attention to detail, like warm, fragrant towels for messy hands & an old school Polaroid if you ask for a picture! Truly a wonderful night. read more

Amano - Tres Leches cake - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Caldwell, Idaho

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Was visiting family in Caldwell when we somehow discovered this place on Re-Opening weekend! In a geographical area that's unfortunately lacking good restaurants, we were relieved to find Amano. The food was high quality, authentic, and delicious. The decor was very modern, as was the dining ware. The cocktail list was large. We loved the jalapeño Gorditas! My husband got fish tacos that were also spicy. Warning that when they say spicy, they mean spicy! I got a steak taco. I was surprised that the quality of steak was as if we were at a steak house, but in my taco! The waiter was nice and explained things well. I would come expecting a longer wait for food since it's all homemade to order. I'd also warn people that it is pricy. If we were locals we'd probably only come for a birthday or a promotion. The quality of the food does thankfully reflect the price but it would be a special occasion place for us. read more

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Been wanting to come here for the longest . Idaho has been on my bucket lists and we finally decided to fly up ! Amano was such an amazing food experience! As you walk in they staff members open the door for you and welcoming you in . We had an amazing server named Sam C . He was such a nice gentleman and very knowledgeable about the menu and he gave out the best recommendations. Overall we had a great experience and loved talking to Sam and our food ) I will definitely need to come back again ! I honestly wish I had space for dessert ! read more

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Best fine dining option in Canyon County. Best Mexican flavors in the valley. Get the lavender Tres Leches cake!

Food was delicious, ambiance was classy, but the service moved at a glacial pace. Dinner took an hour to arrive. Dessert was promised to be quick, but even the check took 15 minutes--so we skipped it. At this rate, breakfast might have come out by lunch. Ps: you have a fruit fly problem, flys where landing in my sisters wine read more