Blue Iguana has been around for years. Back in its early days, The Washington Post's food critic visited it and gave it a favorable rating. I kept saying "One of these days we've got to try it". Well...once again, one of these days turned into one of these years. We finally went there on a Saturday night around 5 p.m. Since we were planning to check out the Whole Foods in Fairfax which is in the area, we decided to have dinner here. In this part of Fairfax, there is a dearth of restaurants. When we pulled into a parking spot right out in front of the place, we noticed a couple of bar customers loitering outside for a smoke break. One of them kept staring at us, which made my husband uncomfortable. After we got past them and entered the restaurant the first thing that hit us was the smell. The place smelled of bleach as well as some funky odor that we couldn't quite place. While it wasn't pleasant, it wasn't enough to make us run out of the place either. When Robert Irvine visits restaurants and picks up a bad smell, he traces it to the carpeting. Well...I wasn't about to investigate it that closely LOL. However, that said, the carpet looked somewhat worse for wear. An older gentleman greeted us and took us to our table. We noticed that the furnishings were on the shabby side. Between the smell and the furnishings---can you say, "time to renovate"? The older gentleman ended up being our server. He was attentive, knowledgeable about the menu, friendly and had a sense of humor. We had crispy fried calamari as an appetizer. It comes with 2 dipping sauces---tomato basil sauce and sweet chili sauce. The calamari was done well. It had a light, crispy breading and was properly cooked, thus it was not at all rubbery. The tomato basil sauce had no basil flavoring. However, the sweet chili sauce was quite good as both the sweet and hot flavors came through very clearly. For my main course, I ordered pan seared salmon. This dish comes with 2 sides---portobello mushroom risotto and sauteed spinach. The salmon had a remoulade sauce on top. I asked for the salmon to be cooked medium rare. It came out almost well done. As it wasn't dried out, I didn't quibble about it and ate it as is. It generally has been my experience that most restaurants don't seem to be able to cook salmon properly and serve it either well done or almost well done. The remoulade sauce was very tame. However, the portobello mushroom risotto was prepared perfectly. The sauteed spinach was bland. Generally speaking, the entire dish was nothing to write home about. My husband had the jambalaya. It had a tomato-based sauce and consisted of shrimp, smoked chicken, andouille sausage, onions, peppers and spicy tomato sauce. You got your choice of either jasmine rice or pasta. My husband chose the rice. He said that the dish was indeed spicy. However, the two ingredients that stood out the most for him were the shrimp and the andouille sausage. He said that the sausage had really good flavor. Before the tip, dinner cost just under $50. Since we don't get out to this part of Fairfax much, we asked the waiter how to get to Fairlakes Circle. He told us that he lives in Lake Anna so he doesn't know the area too well. Lake Anna! He has quite the commute! So he got the manager who came over and gave us great directions. We don't think we'll be going back here for a meal. I do hope at some point the place gets remodeled---and they deal with that smell... read more

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I had lived in the area many years ago and never noticed this little place. After reading a few yelp reviews we decided to give them a try. They offer a happy hour during the weekdays that includes food and drinks. On a recent visit, the bar was packed but the manager started seating people in their dinig room and offered happy hour and dinner options. The food was quite tasty and the service was pleasant. They are located in a little strip mall off Fair Lakes. There appeared to be regulars who knew what to order. The atmosphere was definitely a place where the bartenders knew your name. read more

Blue Iguana - New American Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Most times - good - several times great - a couple times yuck and just pisses you off.... it's Klickish and run off that..... smokers delight tho.... which wee are not.... they get a C+ overall...... deliver from here its risky too.... read more

Thanks to several fellow yelper reviews, we had a chance to check out the happy hour at Blue Iguana. I'll start by saying that I've lived in the Chantilly area in my past life and knew about Blue I, but never ventured over. They have some cool food specials during HH, as well as shooter, better and drink specials. The bar seems to be crowded every time we visit but everyone is so friendly and accommodating. It was SO crowded one time that the management allowed happy hour goers to dine in their dining room, and honored all the HH pricing. The food is standard bar fare and the dining room serves everything from sandwiches, salads to full entree dishes. It's not gourmet but the price is decent and the food is cooked fresh. read more

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Stumbled upon this place because a friend was staying at a nearby hotel. We came in right before the kitchen closed, but that did not affect the quality of our food. My friend and I shared the shrimp & grits appetizer, pecan crusted chicken, catfish fritters, and crawfish. I also ordered an oyster po' boy and a margarita. We both enjoyed the shrimp & grits and the chicken the most. The grits were creamy and flavorful. The chicken was moist and seasoned perfectly. The catfish could have used some more seasoning but I enjoyed the remoulade that came with it. Our server was very nice and attentive. So . . . we came back the next morning for brunch! Buffet with a good selection for a low low price of $13.95? Don't mind if I do! They also have $3 mimosas and a bloody mary bar. We had the same server although she was pretty busy so she tag teamed with another young lady. The food was just as good as the night before. They have a carving station, made-or-omelettes and waffles, in addition to bacon, sausage, potatoes, eggs benedict, french toast, pancakes, and variety of lunch options. We suggested they add grits to the brunch menu too! It's a ways from home but if I'm ever in Northern VA on a Sunday morning,I know exactly where I'm going for brunch! read more

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Great food, delivered promptly. An elaborate and enticing menu. Friendly, polite, efficient service. The decor is a little faded, but it suffices. Both indoor and outdoor service, and lots of sports screens. So why not higher than a three score? I'll post one, but I want first NOT to hear background music with lyrics yelling the "N" word and the "F" word. You may think it's hip. I don't. read more

Cool place to grab a couple of drinks between 8-11 on weekdays & 9ish til closing on the weekends. Bartenders were attentive & it has a nice classic sports bar aesthetic. Would come again read more

Blue iguana is not just a bar, it isn't even just a restaurant, It's a place in which to go and find friends and become family. This amazing institution has been serving friends and family since the early 90's. The staff is one of the most attentive and most overly caring in the entire area. It's hard to just call out a single server, or a bar back, Or bartender.... they all step up and make your experience at blue a happy and hopefully fulfilling one. Ian Purcell is the most amazing young man who makes this place run like clockwork. And by far the best staffed bartenders in the entire area. The food here is amazing!! The staff is even better!! And the atmosphere is electric, ( especially during a caps game ) I love this place , and love me some kathy lefbom!! Daytime bartender who is AMAZING!!! read more

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I love everything about blue iguana. The fries, the beers, the specials, how close it is to my house, the servers, the environment! Whenever i have someone in town from somewhere else I take them to blue iguana so they can get the feel of a hometown Virginia bar! I'm especially a fan of their happy hour and football specials! read more

Blue Iguana - awesome NFL game specials! - New American Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

The quality has gone waaayyyy down! I used to come here at least twice a month. Even during covid I would try to order food and drinks to-go that often. But in the last few months the food quality has dropped. Under-cooked tater tots, lighter portions of cheese on appetizers and fries, and even dry dishes for lack of sauce. I paid for extra sauce on my botanas and I was given half of a pre-Covid portion. I appreciate restaurants getting back on their feet, but they can't do that by charging the same price as always for lesser quality product. read more

Sunday brunch is a must stop for anyone looking for a inexpensive yet delicious brunch. The food always varies but also includes traditional omelet chef, roast beef, Belgium waffles and eggs Benedict. Always love the make your own Bloody Mary. We made a reservation because as we expected, there wasn't an empty seat. The staff was very friendly and welcoming. I met the owner who thanked us and asked immediate feedback on everything from the music to the price which has remained the same for years even after ownership changed hands. Will make this a regular stop for brunch. read more

Blue Iguana - Make your own Bloody Mary. - New American Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

This review is for a bar, not a restaurant. Blue Iguana has been around since I was young and my parents used to go there. These days most of their customers are parents, but then there is also a mix of George Mason University people. If there is an event at Eaglebank Arena or a wedding at the Hyatt people end up here. Why? Because its the cheapest bar around...and that isn't a bad thing, its the best thing. I've probably been here 20-30 times over the past 10 years or more. If you can only go to 1 bar in Fair Lakes, this is the spot, but you have to be in the drinking dive bar mood. At the time of this review you can get $3 fireball shots at all times and it literally unites the young and the old regulars who surround the bar on a daily basis. Its like Cheers with PBRs. They always seem to have appetizer specials to fill up your stomach with much needed food too. The apps are there not to enjoy the flavors, but to fill the estomago. While the inside is a divey as a dive bar as you can get, the main spot to toads chillax is the patio. Its just looking at the parking lot and people walking in and out of pizza shops but I love it, mostly because its not inside. There is also a restaurant side, but that is typically very empty. I once took a girl to that side and our dinner was over $100. Meanwhile I once took a girl to the bar side and our tab was $20 and we couldn't walk (not really, be responsible!). Late nights here are kind of a show. They've had a DJ most of the time and people are liquid schwasted. It can be really fun or really weird. Lots of "last call" ladies. It gets 4 stars because of the patio, the pricing, and the interesting atmosphere and because I'm rating it as a bar. Minuses are the size (standing room only on weekends) and the atmosphere (can go either way). So if you are going to Best Buy and you think you'd like to wash down your new Cheryl Crow CD with a shot and a PBR, then I'll see you at BI! read more

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The Botanas burrito is worth traveling hours for. The environment is extremely welcoming with indoor and outdoor seating and a welcoming staff. read more

Came here twice, food was pretty good for both occasions. I personally liked the brunch better, but that's not an option anymore. I just remember having pretty nice and friendly staff when I went. Support the business! They have pretty good tasting southern food compared to other ones in the area. I hope this place stays around after the pandemic. read more

Blue Iguana - New American Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

I enjoy coming here before taking my flight. They have a pretty good happy hour. I had the loaded potato nuggets. Place is clean and friendly. Nice ambient to just chill and enjoy a nice cold beer read more

Blue Iguana - New American Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Here's a tip. Keep away. Unless you're one of the "special" locals, you won't be accepted.

Awesome establishment. Employees and owner are very nice and professional. The food, drinks and atmosphere are great. read more

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The food was REALLY REALLYYY BLANDDD!!! Everything tasted like it was microwaved. I got the Mac and cheese, fries, chicken tenders and nachos!!! Everything tasted like paper!!! The late night drinks were overpriced but I would not recommend this place for anyone unless you don't have taste buds or you like bland hospital microwaved food. There are hundreds of better options!!!!!! Trust me my friends don't go here! read more

Read the reviews and decided it would be a great place to try when in the area. Pulled up on a Friday afternoon; wanted to sit outside but the area seemed to be their smoking section as the entire time we were there the barflies rotated out there to burn one. They had another area to the other side but the "hostess/bartender" gave every excuse why not to sit there sun, wind, etc...yet looking back it was most likely due to the inconvenience for their staff to go out and wait on you. Oh well...we get prodded into sitting in a small dining section off of the bar, quickly got menus and then wait...and wait...and wait...Twenty minutes go by and a different waitress frantically comes over and apologizes for being forgotten, as the person that sat us couldn't see us from her vantage point and forgot all about us. That's odd, I could clearly see her from where we sat. Anyway, we place an order and thankfully the food returned in a reasonable amount of time as we were hungry after so much waiting to order. We ordered some things off the Happy Hour menu and I can tell you the food was very good especially for the HH pricing, kudos to the kitchen. As for everyone else? No so much. We were forgotten customers, no server stopping by to see how we're doing, is everything ok, would you like another drink, nothing. We thought the food was good and wanted to order more, our drinks emptied and we wanted more, we wanted dessert, but we were totally neglected as customers. Again, despite the lady claiming she couldn't see us I could see her and when trying to flag her down she got a busboy or somebody to come check on us. He came over and by then I told him we just wanted the check and we're done, (we'll go elsewhere to get the rest of what we wanted). He goes back and brings me the bill, but after sitting neglected so long I didn't want to wait even longer so I gave him my credit card so we could pay and get out of there. He comes back with the bill to sign and I did, even left a far healthier tip than I should of since nobody really serviced us. Then, after already signing it I noticed a credit card surcharge. Really? Do you give your customers notice of that anywhere? That's the price of doing business, and like every other business you hide that fee by bumping up the cost of the products to cover that amount. While it's a small fee, it's the principle and I don't appreciate that and would've take my business elsewhere before ordering especially after waiting so long. The food was good but everything else tells me we'll never return. read more

Blue Iguana - New American Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Manager Aziza was extremely rude to my friends, as she charged double shots when they ordered single shot would did not fix the bill. She is also making the bartenders share their tips with a family member that does not work. read more

Happy Hour food and drinks are probably the cheapest and most available time-wise you can find around town but the quality is meh for both - you kinda get what you pay for. Given the abundance of other HH spots nearby, I wouldn't come here very often. read more

Great happy hour and food prices. Food and service never disappoints. Beverages a little pricy. Definitely recommend.

Have not been here in years. Yes. A dive. Super friendly. Grilled burger sliders are wonderful. The tuna tacos.... When they came I was very skeptical.... Taco shells are too thick!! NO THEY WERE NOT!!! Crunchy and delish!!! read more

We came here for Mother's Day brunch and I was honestly really disappointed at the $30 brunch buffet. First and foremost, they jacked up the buffet price just because it was Mother's Day, from the normal $14 per person to $30 per person. The price wasn't announced until just a few days before Mother's Day, so we didn't know we were getting such a bad deal when we initially made the reservation. Now let's talk about the buffet. With 30 dollars, I was expecting a decent buffet but oh boy this was not the case at Blue Iguana. It seemed like something someone put together very last minute-- the food names were written on sticky notes attached to the trays... they didn't even bother printing labels for the foods! Buffet had really underwelming selection of food: French toasts, mac n cheese, pancakes, tater tots, etc. The 'premium' is just a tray of shrimp (not peeled and not deveined), bbq ribs (fatty and burnt), and a sad sad omelett station. Normally I try to eat more when it's buffet but this place's food was just so disappointing that I didn't even bother getting full on the food. I just had to tell myself to be ok with throwing 30+ dollars away. I get restaurants trying to make money on Mother's Day but this just seems clearly a ripoff. I feel taken advantage of and would not ever go back again. read more

Do not order anything with lobster in there, that is not a real lobster and menu is not reflected it. They charge extra $7 for lobster but serve some mess that does not even taste like lobster or a seafood it all. Very disappointed! However, my husband had the one of theirs botanas and he liked it, and our waitress was very nice, for that I'll leave a one star. read more

great food and atmosphere. We went recently the appetizers, service and beverages were fantastic. I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

I've only been to the Blue Iguana once in person, about a year ago. I remembered that the food was good, so I was interested in Grubhub but wanted something different than usual tonight and went for The Blue Iguana. Overall, I'm glad I did! I love that it's a locally owned and operated place with an atmosphere, you can tell that there are a lot of "regulars" that frequent the joint. That instills confidence. I ordered the Ahi Tuna Tacos and Mediterranean Steak Salad. The Ahi Tuna Tacos were 1000% spot on! They got every note right, the tuna was fresh and high grade, the proportions of tuna to everything else were just right and - most impressive - the shells were still light, fluffy and crispy even after the trip from Fair Lakes to Centreville. If there was an option to add jalapeños (and there probably was), I missed it, it's the only thing I might add next time. I will absolutely order them again, very soon. The Mediterranean Steak Salad left a few things to be desired, unfortunately, but not so much that I would not order from Blue Iguana again. I asked for extra cucumbers and got a decent amount of cucumbers, but not what I would call "extra." It seemed that everything but lettuce was very scarce in the salad; very few tomatoes, onions, olives or feta. The serving size of the steak was good, even a little larger than expected, but the quality of the meat was high school cafeteria-grade and the cook on it (ordered medium) was careless, almost no pink, so it was basically on the far end of medium-well. I don't mean to sound critical. I actually really want to see places like The Blue Iguana not only survive, but thrive, in the current economy. I would hate to be left only with chain restaurants from which to choose. I will try The Blue Iguana at least a couple more times, just based on the Ahi Tuna Tacos. I hope that the care and attention to detail in those tacos will shine through in the next items I order. I hope this review reaches the person responsible for the Ahi Tuna Tacos. They should know that they rocked! read more

I went to Blue Iguana on 5/30/19 for dinner. I had passed this restaurant several times and was curious to try it. Our waitress (service) was excellent. I never felt ignored and our drinks and food came out quick. Although I did not partake in their happy hour menu I was impressed it appeared to be outside the traditional hours of other happy hours. The menu is typical bar food so if you're counting calories I skip it. I had the crab cake sandwich and it was good. It was not outstanding. Their was a good amount of meat on the sandwich. The ambiance of the restaurant is a little dated but comfortable. I noticed when I left it had filled in. It really felt like a neighborhood and/or happy hour hang out. In a nutshell, a good place for some pub food after work. read more

Blue Iguana... a local watering hole that has GREAT food too! Items I've tried: :::Apps -Calamari- delicious!!! Served with a spicy sweet chili sauce (Only available during dinner.) -Wings- decent size, perfectly seasoned, ample sauce, extremely hard to go wrong with wings :::Entrees -Mediterranean Salad w/steak or salmon- :::My favorite entree and the BEST mediterranean salad I've ever had!::: served with greens, feta, tomatoes, onions (I actually ask to not have the onions), olives and a light dressing... Med/Greek Salad lovers, this is a must try! -Steak and Cheese Blue is a special place. Whether you're looking for a great meal or a local watering hole, it offers both. The bar is full of regulars, the staff is nice, and it offers a diverse crowd that just seems to want to have a good time. read more

Blue Iguana - Mediterranean salad w/salmon - New American Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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Went for brunch with a 15 dollar coupon from Yelp which they refused to accept even though there aere no limitations or restrictions. Also found a bug in my hashbrowns that resembled a small cockroach. Don't go. There are better places with good customer service, and cleanliness. In response to the comment below...this lady does not understand the difference between what she thinks is "specially priced" and what is actually legally binding on the restaraunt. The terms do not state that you get to decide what is and is not specially priced, and as a result that needs to be explicitly stated, brunch is not stated as a specially priced item/offer. I am an attorney and know the difference. Your restaraunt is violating the terms of your own stated offer. You should focus on providing proper customer service instead of being petty with customers comments and opinions. Additionally, you did have a potato style dish which I referred to as hash browns, and that is where I found the grosssss bug. read more

I live across the street from this place so a friend and I checked it out. I guess I had an interesting "nightlife" experience there this past Saturday. Highlights - the DJ played some hot tunes from thee 80's - today's hits. The drinks were good (really tasty chocolate martini), the cheese fries were delicious. Our bartender was good. The place was pretty dead but there was some good people watching... Negatives - you have to walk through a thick cloud of smoke just to get inside the place because there were about 2 dozen smokers on the patio. There were a bunch of rowdy young guys there who were super drunk and kept knocking over chairs. One extremely obnoxious guy kept hitting on me and my friend and was making rude, racially insensitive comments. The bartenders eventually cut him off but didn't kick him out until he got aggressive. We finally left after nearly getting knocked over by the guy. I think the cops were called. I'm not sure if every night is like that but I don't plan on returning... At least not on a Saturday night. read more

I stopped by Blue Iguana for the first time for my friend Andy L's birthday. It's pretty much a restaurant slash bar tucked away near the Fair Lakes shopping center, although the bar and patio were definitely more popular than the restaurant area. The bar area was pretty dive-y, but we were only there to order drinks and then take them out onto the outside patio, which was a little inconvenient -- but the drinks were reasonably priced so I can't complain too much. This review is solely for my drinking experience there -- but after reading other reviews, I feel like I should stop by during daytime hours to catch their brunch! For a Tuesday night, both the patio and bar were pretty busy. There's even a DJ spinning on the patio (top 40s, I can't complain) and plenty of seating around. The crowd was diverse, the drinks were strong, and the service was good throughout the night. It was a chill, down to earth atmosphere with a diverse crowd. If I were in the area more often, I would definitely come check it out again. read more

How has it taken me this long to finally try this place?? My fiance and I have been trying to find a good happy hour place and I think we might have found it. The hh hours are 3-8 and the beer of the day is until 9pm. They have $5 apps (wings, tenders, quesadilla) and different beer and wine specials. Miles the bartender was awesome! He was attentive and friendly. Everyone was so nice, even the regulars! I've read mixed reviews about the food so I was hoping it would be good since we were hungry. We decided on the nachos, poutine fries, pecan crusted chicken tenderloin, and spicy wings. I'm not sure how the chef before this one was, but this chef's food was delicious. A regular customer even bought us the bbq shrimp because he guaranteed that the shrimp would blow our minds and he was right. Except I'm not a huge shrimp fan unless its fried but I could eat these all day. Also, the cheddar grits were outstanding. I'm not a fan of grits either but this one is earthy, hearty and full of flavor. I really enjoyed it! The new chef is doing an excellent job so far bringing in flavorful dishes and hopefully people will see that too. My only one negative is that the fries are extremely salty and it must be the poutine gravy also, I could barely get through a little bit because it was extremely salty, I felt like I needed a big jug of water after one fry. Overall, blue iguana is awesome. Service is great as well as the food. Come especially for happy hour! read more

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The servers' customer service MARVELOUS. They have evening standup comedy events every Sunday. Their happy hours menu foods are decent. Although it maybe loud at the bar side, the restaurant itself has divided sides for dining and bar so not to worry. They have smoking area outside of the restaurant so for smokers, there are seats and tables ready. read more

When I looked at the menu it was tough to decide what to order. By the menu descriptions, everything sounded good . What I ended up getting was pretty decent - seared ahi tuna. They offer dinner specials Sunday through Thursday with your choice of selected appetizers, entrees and desserts for only twenty one dollars. There is a DJ Wednesdays through Saturdays, and a bar with stools. On a week night there is plenty of parking and there is not much of a wait for a table. On the weekends, however, there's a ton of people and it is noisy and crowded so pick your poison. read more

Blue Iguana - New American Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Our go to brunch place! Been here three times already, and I need to review! We love coming here to eat brunch on Sunday. Place - was a bit skeptical about going here, because of the name and location. Forgive me for judging the cover. However, I liked the set up, the food, and the host and waitress/waiters were nice! Food - I had: - omelette made at the station - beef medallions - pasta - chicken piccata - 2-3 diff kinds of salad (garden, fruit, and Caesar salad) - some type of white fish - mixed veggies - pancakes, bacon - lots of mini desserts Service - Good! Each and every time, we were taken care of and did not have any issues. All in all, loved this place, definitely going back. Wish I could have partake in their bottomless mimosas. read more

We bought the $15 for $25 on Yelp and swung by for the brunch buffet. Apparently we needed reservations, however, they were kind enough to seat us anyways. The brunch was the usual as we've come here so many times living close by. Come check out time, we attempted to redeem our voucher but our sever seemed rather confused. I stated this was a deal we purchased through Yelp. One lady read the fine print over several times in "lawyer like" fashion and honed in on the word "offer" stating brunch was an offering. She said she would honor it but only credited the bill $15 instead of the $25. We didn't care at this point, we just wanted to leave. I think they could probably fine tune the print a bit. When the fine print reads so broadly I think it leaves too much to interpretation. What's considered an 'offer' anyways? Thank you for you reply. Using the caps letter as reply a below, although provides ephasis, does come off as a little aggressive. No worries, we are happy to find another restaurant to call home. read more

Slightly odd experience here. Came in to watch a World Cup game and ended up being the only customer. But I had a nice chat with the bartender and a few other people who worked here. I also had a delicious gyro which I highly recommend. I'll definitely be back when I'm in the area again. Nice people, good food, what's not to love? read more

This bar became my staple while in town for a few weeks. It's convenient and consistent. They do a great job of accommodating their regulars and have quite a few TV's if you're thinking about catching a game. Kathy and Ashley took care of me every time I stopped in. I was always greeted promptly and they both were attentive, helpful, and friendly. This neighborhood bar definitely has a steady stream of regulars who are also very friendly. The food is incredible and the price point won't kill your wallet. It's easy to spend hours in the bar watching football, eating, and socializing because everyone makes you feel welcome. You have to try their botanas! Such a delicious dish that I've never had anywhere else. They have so much consistency in their kitchen, I was pleasantly surprised. Everything about this bar exceeded my expectations. read more

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Great service and excellent brunch buffet options. The staff was friendly on a sunday afternoon when we stopped by for brunch. For under $15.00 you get to choose from an omelette station, carving station, prepared foods which vary, waffle station, and more. There is even dessert. The service was also great and the atmosphere was great for a sports bar. Most of the beef and all of the chicken is also halal. read more