Came here during restaurant week just to try the restaurant and can say I will be back! I ordered the Ceaser salad with the short rib empanada and short rib gnocchi. The Ceaser salad was the best Ceaser salad I ever had! The short rib empanada and the gnocchi was good as well but the gnocchi was covered in scallions. That wasn't stated on the menu or by our server when I asked if onions were in the dish, so unfortunately I did have to send that back and have it remade then ate the rest once I got back home. I also tried the Black Angus NY and it melt in my mouth like butter. They were busy and it did take a while for the food to come out but the wait was worth it. read more

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Wow! What a way to spend our 1 year wedding anniversary! I loved this place. It has been a few months since eating here but I still find myself thinking about it. Our next trip to Cincinnati; It will be extremely difficult to stay away from here. We spent the day in Newport and around Cincinnati and wanted somewhere nice for the occasion. I was iffy on this place at first... you can throw a rock all over America and hit a place with 'Barrel' in the name these days. The Yelp reviews swing both ways here but I'm here to tell you my take... because it swings so far towards the 5 stars that it's very much a 6 or 7 star place(maybe more). We gauged our arrival time based on other activities that day. We wanted ample time at the nearby Lego exhibit so when we arrived there, we made a reservation for 4:30-5. Eating early and making our way back to Louisville was a great idea. The entire time we were there, no one else came in so we had the entire place to ourselves(It was a Friday). The atmosphere is homey but during busy times, I could see it being noisy. The booths could easily fit 6 people comfortably... probably 8 in some cases depending on how wide some of you are. Special Note: This place highlights The Parrillada Experience for Two on their menu and we wanted it! We didn't order it because at a price tag of 130-and pictures online, we didn't want it to be a failed outing. After our first trip, The Parrillada Exp will be on the agenda next time. It's a mixture of different steaks, sausages, shrimp, sides, and salads. Definitely worth the cost. On to the food: Sausage App - Argentine Chorizo. Farmhouse Sausage. Grilled Ciabatta. Hearts of Palm. Green/Red chimichurri. Pepper Relish. I don't like ordering this type of dish when I go places because you never know if it's going to be delicious or very bad. It ended up being super delicious. We couldn't make up our mind which sauce we liked the best and which meat we liked the best. App PERFECTION! Land and Sea - This is what my wife went with. Asada Skirt Steak. Jumbo Shrimp. Asparagus. Red chimichurri butter. I had bites of the shrimp and it was good. I had to save room for my dish. Wagyu Denver Cut - I went back and forth. Lobster ravioli being on the menu almost made my decision instant but I was going back and forth between ravioli, steak, and a few other things. I asked the server which he recommended of the 4 Chef's cuts. He recommended two... one of which was the Wagyu so I went with it. I wasn't disappointed AT ALL. He mentioned that the Wagyu Denver Cut was a new addition to the menu... I'm not sure but you could definitely tell it was cooked, arranged, and presented with care. I savored every angle of every bite. We also ordered a side of brussels because of course! Originally we were going to dessert somewhere else but went ahead and ordered the Hazelnut Vanilla Creme Brulee here. Perfect ending to the meal. This brulee was light and had the right amount of crunch. It was also larger than expected. We had no complaints with this place. Easily one of the better restaurants I've had in Cincinnati. If you're doubting visiting this place, take the dive! Other notes: They have beer and a small cocktail variety but they primarily seem focused on wine(plenty of options to choose from). read more

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I love this place!! The atmosphere is so comfortable and cozy and the service is top notch So lets talk about food My hubby got a steak which he loved I got the salmon with a avocado chimichurri and potatoes It was the best I have eaten They also made the best dirty martini I have ever had What a wonderful dining experience read more

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DO NOT SLEEP on this place . We were in town for a weekend and looking for a high end meal . We could not find a spot that could fit our group and ended up here ... well it did not disappoint . Waygu ... fire , pork chop... fire . Sides .... Fire . Oh yeah Gnocchi ... fire . Don't pass it up you will not be mad and the price point was great .cocktails were good as well . read more

Butcher and Barrel - Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

The 10 ounce skirt, with shrimp were amazing. Cooked perfectly, and within my healthier dining options. Great side of chimichuri (sp?), has me eager to back again, and again. read more

My husband and I came here for a date night before having our third baby and it was amazing! I loved the vibes and decor, service was excellent and quick, and we ate the best Caesar salad of our life. Seriously, get the Caesar salad. We got the meat experience for 2 and it was a ton of food! Our fav was the filet mignon followed by the skirt steak. Shrimp and sausages were a little overcooked and the NY strip was fine. We also got the sprouts and mac and cheese and both were excellent. For dessert we had the caramelized banana cannoli which was ok but hidden under a pile of whipped cream and toppings. We would definitely come back! read more

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JUST WOW!! Picked this off Yelp, and everything was amazing!! Everything that we got was delicious!! Service was also impressive. Quick water refills and no hovering. What really made this restaurant stand out was the live music. It happens every Thursday. His voice was beautiful. read more

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On a Thursday walked right in and seated quickly. Jennifer was great and explained the menu. Started with a new riff old fashion. So good had to order a second one. Fro the main course ordered the Asada skirt steak. Shrimp cooked just right and the steak was tender and cooked to order. Had live music that was great. read more

Butcher and Barrel - Asada skirt steak - Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

The service and ambiance was good, but the food was mediocre. Very rich and dependent on sauce.

This is the most disappointing experience we've had at a steakhouse. I made a reservation a few weeks in advance for my husbands birthday. It was supposed to be a romantic night out and I selected this restaurant because of the reviews and the unique Argentinian menu. When we arrived, I told them I had a reservation and they asked if I would mind sitting at the bar... I said I do mind, we made a reservation so there should be a table available and we would love a booth. They sat us in the "back room" at a normal table where only a few people were sitting alone with two vacant bars and a stage. It was completely quiet, no one else around and it wasn't the same elevated experience as the main restaurant. Another young couple gets sat in the back room shortly after us. They complained to their server and the server then gives them a booth table right next to us and comes and lights candles for them. I would've asked for it myself but surely if it wasn't already taken they would've offered it to us when I asked, right? Moving on, our server was clearly busy in the other room and forgot about us. He spent at least a half hour between checking on us. He probably came by a total of 4 times including taking our order and dropping off the food. We were never asked if we wanted more cocktails, we had to remind him when we needed things, and he didn't clear plates or bag up our food - just threw the boxes on the table. Horrible overall service. Finally, the food was not worth $200. My husband and I shared some bread (which is not complimentary?), the Experience meal, and two cocktails for this price. The Experience was much more low quality than I expected. The steak looked like it had been microwaved. The New York Strip was gray and soggy and chewy. Poor quality sausage - bone dry inside. They brought thousand island dressing with the fries as the "secret sauce". The asparagus was the biggest I've ever seen, so of course it was tough and stringy and not edible. The shrimp was overcooked and rubbery. Nothing had any flavor or seasoning. And for $120 for the plate, it should be on a warmer first of all, and there should be bigger portions. We couldn't believe it. We will never go back to this restaurant and will continue to tell our friends and family to avoid it. It was difficult to rebound this special night after this experience. read more

Butcher and Barrel - The Experience - I do not recommend. Very poor quality meats. They probably offer this to get rid of what's not ordered. - Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Alright... I have zero pictures to prove this experience, but an experience is truly what it was. Yes, the food was good but our waitress? She was phenomenal. She went above and beyond in every possible way. It was my friend's birthday, and she brought out empanadas, a cheesecake, and even gave me a bracelet. She was determined to find the perfect drink for me, even though I kept reassuring her I was perfectly fine with just water. She was genuinely the sweetest, kindest soul. There was a live singer performing, which added a fun vibe to the night. The restaurant was pretty empty on the weeknight we went, so it felt relaxed and personal in the best way. The empanada trio (4/5) was great, especially dipped in the red chimichurri. For mains, we ordered the wagyu ribeye (5/5), wagyu filet mignon (5/5), papas brava (4/5), and the house mac (3/5). The steaks were cooked perfectly- juicy, tender, and salted just right. They came pre-cut, and the ribeye had the perfect amount of fat. The papas brava were more like smashed potatoes. Delicious, but honestly the name could use a tiny update. The house mac wasn't my personal favorite, but my friend loved it, so I'm attributing that to personal preference. All in all: fantastic food, unforgettable service, and a birthday dinner we're still talking about. read more

Delicious food. Prices were okay, a little expensive but expected. We got the wrong appetizer initially but then they brought the correct one. Caylee (sp?) was our waitress and she ended up giving us the appetizer we didn't order for free so yay?! The restaurant had a dark ambiance to it, the seats weren't super comfy in the booth we were at. They were kind of broken down. We booked a high top reservation and they must've given it away to someone else or something because we had to wait at the bar for a bit then be seated in a booth. Probably one of the best chocolate martinis I've ever had on the other hand... read more

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I'd been hearing wonderful things about Butcher and Barrel from ChowDown. So when they offered a 15% discount to people who attended the Cincinnati Oscar Shorts films, we just had to check them out. And now I'm wondering why I waited so long. For one of the "higher price point" restaurants, the setting was very casual, with a beautiful rock archway marking off a section of the restaurant and a moose head (or was it elk?) on the wall. Our server was wonderful -- very friendly, attentive, and helpful. And the food was very beautiful, innovative, and delicious. My favorite was the fried deviled eggs appetizer, topped with bacon, and the provoleta -- molten provolone cheese and bread -- I swear the cherries tomatoes in there burst in your mouth with a piquant vinegar explosion!! With a shoutout to the lobster ravioli. I thought the ravioli was okay, but was really blown away by the complex sauce the pasta was swimming in!!! All told, a relaxed fun atmosphere that takes food seriously -- and we are the better for it. read more

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Visited for date night and we had a good time. The bar is great and the bourbon selection is fire. I had the 7th Street Sour cocktail and it was delicious. Service was quick which makes me think a lot of things are premade but our food was good. read more

Great food , great service and a very cool ambience. Located in downtown Cincinnati I highly recommend the lobster ravioli and the New Riff on an Old Fashioned. read more

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Celebrated an anniversary here with the two person platter. Definitely worth the cost, as portions filled my partner and I with leftovers. Service was wonderful and the bar has an eclectic atmosphere with interesting decor. read more

Butcher and Barrel - Platter - Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

long story short: get the parrillada experience We went with a big group to celebrate a birthday. The decor is eclectic, in a fun way, & our waiter was very attentive & handled our big group very well. We started with drinks & appetizers. The espresso martini was not my favorite- the coffee flavor was overpowering & made it difficult to drink. The caprese appetizer was good, but not great. For our main meal, we split the parrillada experience. It began with a caesar salad, which was good. The main portion was huge- a variety of meats & shrimp with two sides. The steaks & sausages were well-cooked & delicious, especially with their sauces. The papas bravas were okay- not bad, but certainly not the best I've had. The mac & cheese was also a little underwhelming but, again, not bad at all. Despite the average sides, the meats made this meal well worth it & we will be going back. read more

Drinks/bar review only: We did not eat here. We just wanted a celebratory drink at a new place. The cocktail list looked interesting online so we gave it a try. I should have done more research! There are dead animal decorations everywhere, at least 5 different light fixture types all mixed together, large rusty tools/metal pieces hanging by rope directly over the bar (our heads), and overall just an odd and ugly appearance. Not my kind of place, and certainly not decorated nice enough for the prices on the dinner and drink menus. Bar service was nice enough but super slow and rarely came back to check on us. I ordered a Manhattan which was improperly served in a lowball glass with ice. Yes I know sometimes this is acceptable but I disagree, as it waters down the flavor too much and gives opportunity for bartenders to use too much mixers. Which they did. All I could taste was vermouth and water. It was awful. When he finally came back, I asked him to take it back and cash us out. I prefer a chilled Manhattan served in a martini glass. We saw some food being served. It looked mediocre. Will never return. read more

Butcher and Barrel - Vermouth on ice aka the manhattan - Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

A somewhat casual while expensive place, however the food is delicious and the portions are generous, and there were plenty of gluten friendly options. I had the salmon and a side of brussels and both were incredible! read more

The meal we had here while visiting the area on a work trip was one of the best meals I believe any of us have ever had! Our waiter was very friendly and very helpful! I personally had a filet and a side of Mac and cheese with the bread service and it was to die for! I will definitely be returning to this restaurant if I am ever in the Cincinnati area again, or I might just have to make a special trip! read more

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I was surprised by my experience here. We started off with their empanadas and the short rib one was packed with flavor! We then got the chopped wedge and casear salad. For entrees we got the skirt steak and filet which were both great. My favorit was the skirt steak since it was juicy and not over cooked. I am pretty particular on the way my steaks are cooked and hate an over cooked steak and they did great. Next time I come back I want to try The Parrillada Experience for two. read more

We love coming here. Our waitress Jennifer is amazing, and the place is so fun and pretty for celebrations of big dinners. The food is always delicious, particularly the steaks/ just perfection every time. Juicy, tender, fresh, cooked whatever way you want it. Always love this place read more

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It was Delicious, excellent service and great atmosphere. We were there for my birthday and going to the Broadway Show. Just a short walk to the Arnoff. Ihighly recommend. read more

Butcher and Barrel delivers good steak and good sides, breaking away from other steakhouses of the area with a bit of South American Flair. I'm usually pretty critical of higher end restaurants, especially steakhouses. I've worked in enough to know the tricks and how eye-wateringly overpriced certain cuts can be. Butcher and Barrel delivers high-end steak at an agreeable price point. I tried the filet, the New York Strip, and their side steak. The filet took the crown without contest: juicy, seared, and well balanced in seasoning. Every bite was satisfying. The New York Strip was fine, if a bit unadventurous. The side steak was over-seared. If they were attempting to create a crust, it did not achieve a desirable result. The butcher fries are excellent. The brussel sprouts are excellent. Both salads were excellent. Service was attentive but never hovering. Ambiance is pretty typical for a modern downtown steakhouse. read more

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I wanted to love it but was disappointed. We had an extremely pleasant server but she didn't come back with drink refills or ask if anyone needed a refill. My coworker ordered the PorkChop which was overcooked and a bit hard to eat. The grilled Caesar salad seemed very expensive for what it was. Mac and cheese looked great but was runny. I had the 14oz Angus medium rare which was really good. The chorizo clam chowder was great. Bread service bread was hard/crunchy-like trying to eat slices of croutons. Although the staff was pleasant, I wouldn't return here for steaks when there are better options nearby for a similar price. Two sodas, chowder, Caesar salad, Mac & cheese, bread service, 14oz Angus steak: $127 before tip. Also- if you pay with credit card you pay a 3% fee. read more

The Provoleta was AMAZEBALLS between that and our salads, we almost had to tap out early. Almost. We managed about half our dinners. R had a burger and I had the ñoquis con estofado. It was fantasmic! I'm honestly shocked they didn't have a line out the door. We definitely recommend popping in when you're downtown. They've got a great bar and private dining areas, too. read more

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Been here several times and it's always been a positive experience. The service has been great consistently. Kind of small for a Steakhouse, but it has a nice intimate feel to it. Classy but still casual. I've loved the food every time I've been here, got the Chicken Milanese and a Caesar salad this time and I was completely satisfied with both. Would definitely recommend read more

Butcher and Barrel - Chicken Milanese - Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

We had a party of four and enjoyed the evening. The server was very knowledgeable and we could tell he enjoyed his job and believed in the quality of the menu choices. We started with the deviled eggs which were nothing special but good, none the less. We had the grilled Caesar and the wedge - these were shared and plenty for the four of us. The main courses we chose were short rib gnocchi and one of the steaks. Steaks were tender and cooked perfectly. The short rib was melt in your mouth good. We all left with to go boxes and full bellies. Special shout out to the delightful food runner - she was happy and smiley and another one who seemed to really enjoy her job. read more

We came after my doctoral commencement. There were about 5-6 of us. The service and ambiance are amazing. The big hits with food are the short rib gnocchi, empanadas, and the shared parradilla plate. Fries are on point too. Def a cool spot to go to and the live music was a plus. read more

Went to the Butcher and Barrel to celebrate our anniversary. We took our teenage daughters. We really enjoyed the experience. The service from our waitress Jessie was good. The atmosphere in the restaurant was interesting and there was a decent energy even though the dining area was not completely full. The flavors in the food were exceptional. My wife and I had the Parrillada for 2. It was excellent. It came with caesar salad and two sides to go with the wide selection of meats and sausage. My oldest had the filet medallions medium rare and she loved them. My youngest enjoyed the short rib gnocchi. It was a ton of food. We enjoyed it for lunch the day after and still have some left that I plan to incorporate into breakfast tomorrow. If you have not been here it is worth checking out. The one thing I don't love is restaurants adding credit card surcharges to bills. I know margins are thin but simply price your food accordingly. I thing tacking a 3% surcharge that goes on top of the entire bill including tax and tip is ridiculous. I know historically this has always been included in the cost of the food, now it just seems like an additional cost that irritates the diner. read more

This was a place we stopped in while on our girls trip . The atmosphere was interesting and creative . Out waiter wanted us to call him ugly which was memorable so I'm guessing that is why he does that . The food was delicious and we enjoyed our meals and the server was informative and pleasant. read more

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Stopped in for a couple of drinks after dinner and sat at the bar. The bartender seemed to take a bit to approach us. They were moderately busy that evening, but the bartender was friendly once she came. They have a nice assortment of cocktails and wines by the glass. Overall, not a bad place to stop in for a drink. read more

When enjoyed a time of sharing a meal here. We had out table for about three hours and shared two bottles of a Pinot between my wife and I. The wine pricing was very reasonable and the restaurant had great ambiance. We did the parrilla which I found to be good but not great. Nothing stood out from the meats. We did enjoy the Brussel sprouts and the red potatoes were crispy and tasty. Everything was seasoned right but the meats were warm and not hot when served. Service from Diamond was excellent. read more

Butcher and Barrel - Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Spent the weekend in Cincinnati and from this great place. The empanadas were incredible the short rib was my favorite but all three delicious , they were so good returned Saturday just for them. The gnocchi was rich and delicious. We sat at the bar both day's service was great definitely will return when back in Cincinnati! read more

Butcher and Barrel - Empanadas - Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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We had reservations for 6:15 on a Sunday night. We chose to sit at a high top in the bar area. Our server was abrupt, and when our dishes came out, she almost slammed them on the table and then just left. Totally unprofessional. We ordered one meal from the Restaurant Week menu, and two other dishes. The tuna tartare had so much lime crema on it, so you only tasted that. However, the two little pieces of fried avocado and rice chips were great. The Cacio E Pepe Salad had barely any dressing, so it was salty from the prosciutto with nothing to balance out the bitterness of the arugula. The Steak Milanese with wild mushroom demi and risotto was so salty we could barely eat it. We took it home and tried again for lunch, and threw it away because it was still too salty. The wedge salad was good, and the potatoes were also too salty. We have tried this restaurant three times now, and it has disappointed us on some level every time. We will not return. read more

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THIS PLACE! We had one of be best dinners of our lives last night. I asked on Facebook where I should take Lauren to celebrate her kicking butt in everything and @jamesmkarlson recommended @butcherandbarrel. So we booked a reservation and OMG. They made it such a special experience for Lauren. Jennifer (adore her) started out seating us with a note congratulating her, a little bracelet, and non alcoholic champagne she was ecstatic. Like, come on, how freaking adorable is that! Now the food....we went HAM. *Tuna tartare with fried avocado, hearts of Palms, jalapeño crema, and rice crisps. Lauren ate it all! I had one bite. *truffled deviled eggs. Lauren doesn't even like deviled eggs. These were for me. She said it was one of her favorite things. *Lobster bruschetta. Rich, buttery, and fresh. My favorite appetizer. Then the main drop. Australian A5 Wagyu cooked to mother freaking perfection. I died. Then they surprised us with a dessert trio. * hazelnut fig jam crème brûlée. Crème brûlée is our favorite dessert of all time and this was one of the best ones. I asked him if he got the recipe from Jimmy Gibson before he passed away because it tasted just like Jimmy Gs. And if you're in Cincy, you know what I'm talking about. * tiramisu. We were stuck, but we somehow managed to get this down also. Toffee and chocolate mousse and everything you want it to be. * Cream puff with a lemon sauce and berries. It was the perfect ending to such a phenomenal meal. It was light, but it was good and thank God we walked a mile and a half to from the red stadium because we were beyond full. I recommend! The food was outstanding. I love little tapas plates for the price and selection. I've never really had much Argentinian food, but this was next level. I can't wait to go back. read more

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The service here was great. We had a lovely waitress. For appetizers we had the empanada trio & the sausage platter. The empanadas were delicious, the sausage platter not so much. For the main course we had the chicken Milanese and tenderloin gnocchi. The tenderloin was cooked right, tender & delicious. But there's wasnt enough sauce for the gnocchi. So some of my pasta was dry. My colleague got the Milanese and he barely finished half of it. We ordered the tiramisu mousse as dessert. Our mistake that we didn't realize it was a MOUSSE and not a traditional tiramisu. Should have ordered the crème brûlée , the waitress recommended. The place has an old bar look and feel and appears to be popular with happy hour customers. read more

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I really wanted to like this place, especially since the ambiance is great and the staff are friendly and attentive. However, the food--specifically the steak--was an absolute letdown. Right at the start, our waitress enthusiastically recommended Fried Deviled Eggs as an appetizer. After a firm no, I had a sinking feeling about how the rest of the meal might go. Unfortunately, I was right. I ordered the 16 oz "Angus" NY strip, one of the more affordable options on their outrageously priced menu, and it was hands down the worst quality steak I've ever had. While it was cooked properly, the meat itself was an unchewable disaster--fatty in all the wrong ways, full of gristle, and so tough that every bite felt like a workout. I gave up less than halfway through because it just kept getting worse. I understand that steakhouses charge a premium, but at almost $60 per steak, I expect a premium product. This was anything but. Between three people, we spent nearly $300, and it was nowhere near worth that price. This was my second visit, and I recall a similar issue the first time. I gave them another chance, but after this experience, I won't be back. read more

This was a tasty meal in downtown Cincinnati. I was able to make a reservation easily on their website and was seated right away upon arrival. The interior has an upscale classic decor with a variety of booths and tables. I tried the When Life Gives You Rum cocktail which was definitely strong if not a bit light on flavor. I also had the half Caesar salad which was unexpectedly served in a wedge format. The dressing was flavorful with a bit of a spark of spice. The croutons were fresh and crunchy. For an entree I had the prosciutto wrapped pork tenderloin. This was the highlight of the meal with tender and flavorful pork and a wonderful smooth sweet potato purée. For dessert I had the chocolate pot de Creme. Not bad although not amazing. Basically a thick chocolate pudding with whipped cream surrounded by sliced strawberries. The server was very good. Very friendly and attentive. Overall not a bad meal in Cincinnati. read more

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Everything was fabulous! We split the lemon pepper and baby arugula salad. It had ample amounts of prosciutto on it and I loved the crispy Parmesan. If I had to complain, I'd like more lemon juice, but it was still great. I had the short rib gnocchi which was so rich. The gnocchi were soft and silky. The skirt steak and shrimp were wonderfully seasoned and the red chimichurri added so much extra flavor. The portion sizes were great and we left feeling satisfied. The service was excellent as well. Our server was kind and attentive. I appreciated the laid back atmosphere with the elevated food. read more

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