My husband, son and I love to come to Cafe Olli for dinner but we might not come again after our last experience. The food was as good as ever but the service has gone downhill in recent months. It felt unprofessional and cold. Add to that the 20% health and wellness charge and expected gratuity after that...we did not leave happy. read more

$$$$. 20% health and wellness plus tip Food and service excellent Ambiance very good Cost very high read more

Food - Average I got salmon toast and my friend got Olli breakfast. Salmon spread/topping was tasty...It was also beautiful to look at (picture attached) When I asked my friend how her breakfast was, her response "it's just salad, bacon and eggs" haha Take that as you will. We both finished our meals. So it was tasty enough. Service - Good Our server (Anna, name on receipt) was friendly and sweet. She checked on us couple of times. We also didn't need much. Again, she was sweet during the small interactions we had. Ambiance - Light and easy....if this makes sense, haha....solid 7.5 out of 10 for me. Love the simplicity of the decor. The little fresh flower arrangements on every table were super cute. Place feels open and is full of light which made it a relaxing environment regardless of place being crowded. Open with a cozy feel. Parking - small lot available, but street parking was easy to find. Cons - 20% tip included and not verbally mentioned ahead. Granted tips should be left for your customers to decide based of quality of service received. Taking tips out ahead without consent is not okay no matter how you paint it to be. When our lovely server brought the check she mentioned 20% is added for employee's "health and wellness"....which was very confusing to hear. I asked, is the 20% for you? She said yes but "only for health and wellness." That sort of insinuated to me that more was expected. I wish the answer was 'Yes 20% is taken out and you're more than welcome to add if you find us exceptional, but it's not expected.' This shows 1- transparency-ish (ish because you don't mention ahead) 2- less pressure and confusion to your customers. As confused as we were, we wrote "tip included" on merchant's receipt understanding that it goes to our server Anna. It is not my (your customers') business to calculate where and how tips are used as long as it's going to benefit our server one way or another. Whether it's for "Health and wellness", yoga class, cigarettes, excursions, rent, dinner, is not our business. Don't put that pressure on us. We already paid our dues. We're here to enjoy a nice relaxing meal and leave refreshed. Leaving confused and questioning your integrity as a business and ourselves as tippers weren't part of the plan, but that was the impression, which is why we will never be back to Cafe Olli:-( I'm very disappointed how the tipping culture (esp. after the pandemic) makes consumers feel obligated or even shamed into giving more money that's not earned. And this is coming from someone who managed a restaurant and was a server myself and understands the value of tipping as well as receiving tips. However, the entitlement of taking customers' money regardless of quality of service shouldn't be normalized, yet here we are :-/ This is less to do with the money than principle. Have I said enough?! haha ... If you left this place confused, know that you're not alone. read more

Cafe Olli - Matcha, and the cute tiny fresh flower arrangement - Cafes Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Stopped in while walking the parade route for Good in the hood parade. Cute cafe and the bread coming out looked amazing! I only purchased a oatmilk vanilla latte for my walk. It was great. I saved this spot to come back and try more and buy bread. read more

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Super cute brunch spot with indoor and outdoor seating! It's supposed to had sort of an Italian flare brunch so very fun to bring friends to visit! Definitely make a reservation on the weekends but we were able to sit outside with heaters and it was cozy. Started off with an Au Pair latte which had a delicious pear syrup and came with a biscotti. The service was great, very attentive and friendly. For the food, get the ricotta toast! It has a fruity jam on top and the toast is super crispy. I enjoyed my breakfast sandwich a lot, but it wasn't anything spectacular. The porridge also has some nice flavors in it. Overall a great and cute brunch spot with some unique dishes. read more

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We were originally planning to visit somewhere else for brunch before we started our drive back up to Seattle, but changed our minds after chatting with the person ahead of us in line at JinJu. She highly recommend Cafe Olli, which was apparently featured in the New York Times recently, and which opens relatively late for brunch at 9AM. Since we had just spent an hour and a half in a line, we wanted to avoid another wait and headed over straight afterwards. Cafe Olli has a brightly lit, welcoming interior with a gorgeous wood fired oven in the center, giving a smoky tinge to the atmosphere. When we arrive at around 9:20, the place was only about a quarter full and we were seated immediately without reservations. By ten, it was pretty full. Steak & Eggs ($28) - The star of the show is the brisket. It's unfortunately not the best. While a smoky aroma permeates the dish, there are issues. Firstly, the brisket is cut into thick rectangular slabs with the grain. This means that the grain goes with the longer side of the slab, necessitating the diner slice against the grain with the steak knife to create bite sized portions. This is an issue, because the brisket is far overcooked, which makes it want to separate along the muscle fibers. Cutting it is an exercise in futility, as the meat keeps splitting perpendicular to the cut. When I say overcooked I mean it. The meat is tender almost to the point of being mushy and comes apart very easily, but it's dry, almost giving a feeling of desiccating the tongue. By itself, the brisket probably warrants a 2 star rating. Luckily everything else on the plate is nice. The brisket is topped with crisp pickled red onions and crushed hazelnuts, giving some nice textural contrast and adding complimentary nutty flavors and acidity that works with the vinaigrette. There's a very flavorful romesco sauce filled with tangy notes, a bit of heat, lots of nuttiness and fragrant peppers. This is all on top of a bed of coarse cut grits, cooked until perfection with plenty of cheese. They use a special blend of cheese - there are some funky notes almost like they added blue cheese to the mix. The dish is served with a side salad of mixed greens in a tangy and salty vinaigrette. The greens are slightly bitter and with the dressing acidity, helps to cut through some of the fattiness of the brisket. The dish comes with two eggs. I usually worry about sunny eggs since some places somehow manage to serve eggs that even leave the whites gooey. The waitress assured us that that eggs are cooked in the wood fired oven and come out with a completely set white - and I can confirm. The yolk remains gooey and only somewhat runny. The yolks are sprinkled with flaky salt, boosting the natural egg flavors. (4/5) Biscuits & Gravy ($25) - The single egg included in this dish is just as good as with the Steak & Eggs. The sausage gravy is amazing. It's reduced until a ridiculously fatty concentrated umami develops. There's so much flavorful sausage included that it's almost like a ragú rather than a gravy. They add plenty of fresh cracked black pepper, giving a distinct warmth that spreads through the mouth while eating. Now the issue - the biscuit. I am honestly very skeptical of the biscuit recommendations from Portlanders, considering they hold Pine State Biscuits in high regard. Those biscuits are hard, dry, and dense pucks of sadness, nothing like a proper buttery and flaky one. To their credit, the biscuits that Cafe Olli serves are at least a little better. There are clear markers on the side that indicate they attempt to layer it, and the color of the interior has a slight yellow tinge, indicating the possible usage of a better quality butter. The biscuit is toasted on both the top and bottom, giving a crunchy crust, a pleasing textural contrast against the smooth and tender sausage gravy. The taste is nicely developed, starchy and buttery, not like raw flour or baking soda that I've found plagues a lot of biscuits on the West Coast and in the Midwest. The problem lies inside the biscuit. Just like Pine State - this one is dense and dry, but at least not hard and crumbly. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad biscuit, but isn't a good one either. A good biscuit can be eaten on its own. This one requires gravy to be palatable. As with the Steak & Eggs, luckily everything else on this dish is amazing aside from the one flaw. (4/5) I'd love to revisit Cafe Olli for dinner to try out their wood fired pizzas. For brunch, though, I'd probably pick somewhere else in the future. I'd consider both dishes we ordered to be good overall, but with some very glaring weaknesses. Note: Cafe Olli charges a 20% "Health and Wellness Fee". They make it abundantly clear. read more

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Super cute spot! Stopped in for brunch and had a wonderful experience. Our server was friendly and service was prompt. The whipped ricotta toast may be one of my best bites of 2025! Quality ingredients and fresh. read more

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I don't know... adding a 20% "health and wellness" fee to put the cost of keeping your staff happy on your customers rather than management paying them better is wild. Why not increase menu prices 20%? Probably because they know their prices are already high. And then they still give you the option to leave an additional tip. My friends around the world call the US corrupt and Cafe Olli is proof. Anyway. The food was okay. Steak was tender. Skillet was interesting but I felt it lacked flavour. Service was almost non existent. read more

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Okay, so far I have only been for breakfast but it went above and beyond! The service was thoughtful, engaged and kind. We had a server named Hunter and they were the best! As a group we had the Olli Breakfast Plate, Biscuits and Gravy and the Frittata Sandwich. The amount of bacon that comes with things is profound, like 5-6 thick cut slices! Everything on the Olli Breakfast plate was perfectly executed. The radicchio salad was delicious, the bread was thick and chewy, and the bacon and eggs don't get any better. I also tried the biscuits and gravy- so good, all the flavors mixed into one ultimate comforting meal. The butter does cost $1 extra to put on that beautiful bread but the portions are hefty, the food is fresh and the ambience is perfect! Can't wait to return for other meals! read more

Cafe Olli - Olli Breakfast Plate - Cafes Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Great food and service. Our multi-generation group enjoyed everything we ordered - the waffles were delicious!

We've been to Cafe Olli twice in the past couple of months and can't wait to go back! There's plenty of seating both inside and in a tent outside. We really enjoyed the counter seating and watching them make pizzas on our most recent visit. The menu is small, but mighty. They really use the wood fired pizza oven and seasonal ingredients to their advantage. You really can't go wrong. I definitely recommend starting with a salad. The beet salad is super delicious and hits all the right flavor notes with some fun textures mixed in. We also really enjoyed their mixed greens salad which had an assortment of veggies and the most perfect dressing. We absolutely loved the Potato Pizza. I can't recommend it enough if it's on the menu. It was just the perfect combination of flavors and you definitely want to add the bacon. It's like the perfect baked potato on a beautiful pizza crust. I've also had their pasta, which is perfection. We had a Chitarra with sungold tomato sauce. It was the height of tomato season, so the flavors were spot on. We were also lucky enough to try their pork chop, which was perfectly cooked and came with a side of potatoes. It was the right size to share and we really enjoyed it. You don't want to skip dessert here, their pastry game is on point. My personal favorite is the Panna Cotta. I LOVE Panna Cotta and they really know what they are doing. The texture and flavor is spot on and then they add a beautiful seasonal fruit and a crumble. The raspberry with white chocolate crumble blew my mind. The service here has always been wonderful and you really can't go wrong with the menu. Excited to continue exploring the menu here! read more

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Pizza has been a major craving during the last few months, and a search for said delectable is what brought us to even come across Cafe Olli. After looking at some reviews, we were sold and went to check it out. What transpired was some of the most fun we've had at dinner in a very long time. Watching the team cook from the bar was half the experience. The level of care they put into each plate is phenomenal. Then our food came and WOW. Layered flavors, fun combinations, and beautiful ingredients. On top of this, our server was incredible - he gave us recommendations that were wonderful, and even brought us complimentary chili honey! Overall, it was a wonderful experience. I can't wait til we are back on that side of town to experience it again. read more

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Visited Cafe Olli with some friends last week for a special birthday dinner after having long wanted to give this place a try. I'll start by saying the space is quite lovely. There's an open kitchen, soft lighting, and it's a quaint setting with some table seating inside and additional outdoor space. It feels warm, elegant and homey. Service overall was pretty good. I believe there was some training going on. But they were attentive and helpful in navigating the menu. Now to the food/drink. Started the meal with some passion fruit margaritas which were decent but completely lacking in the passion department. From what I could tell there wasn't much if any hint of passion fruit coming through. It looked like a general margarita and tasted like it, which was a bit of a let down given how it was advertised. They also weren't filled to the level I would have expected which was odd for a $15 drink. We wound up trying all 4 pizzas on the menu which is not huge so keep that in mind. The crust was tasty and pizzas were well cooked. Some of the flavors just weren't all there for me. The sausage was the favorite of the night. I wanted to love the Brussel and potato but the overwhelming amount of mustard seed unfortunately was tough to compete with and overpowered the pie. The other two pizzas were both solid but didn't blow me away. Overall it was a nice evening but given the smaller menu I probably wouldn't rush back for a round two unless in the area. read more

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The review is just for the cake and take away. We wanted some chocolate cake to celebrate my father in law that would have been turning 95 and he loved chocolate cake. Read great things about Cafe Olli's chocolate cake. Waited until 5pm which is when they said cake would be available on a Saturday. Well there was a partial cake so it was from Friday. And they had another to bring out later that night once this one was gone. $13.20 for the piece. Wow that must be the new going rate for cake, usually we make it at home. Brought it home and had it for dessert the same night. It is very good cake, not too sweet, good chocolate flavor. Great option if you don't want to go to Papa Haydn. Been too long since I have their chocolate cake but I think you can't go wrong with either. read more

Cafe Olli - Cafes Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Ok I'll upgrade to a 5 star only if they keep the only F-ing sweet item (IMO) that's worth it on the menu. I only come here for the French toast which is one of the best in Portland so please please keep this on the menu. If not then 2 stars!!! Haha. read more

Cafe Olli - They better not drop this from the menu - Cafes Near Me - Portland, Oregon

My friend and I sat at the bar and it was so cool to watch the chefs make the food. The wood fire oven makes everything feel so fresh and homey. We got the greens and the frittata, both were delicious. It felt like every ingredient was carefully thought out. The service was attentive and kind. I would definitely come here again! read more

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If you are about ingredients that make for extraordinary entrees this is the place. I was recommended to come to Cafe Olli by a friend who frequently visits Portland. It lived up to the recommendation. Probably one of the top five breakfasts I've had in the past 10 years of traveling. The French toast is on another level. I ordered the steak and eggs (sans eggs because they only serve them with wet yolks and that's an absolute hard limit for me). The meat is beyond delicate and cooked to perfection. I'm not a huge grits fan but these are absolutely delicious and with seasonal greens the pairing was fantastic. Plan to share bites from everyone's plates you'll want to experience what everyone is having. Since it is a cafe a latte is absolutely in order and this one is beautiful and delicious. I would recommend this cafe as a must go to if you're planning a visit to the Portland area. read more

Cafe Olli - French toast with apple compote pecans and whipped cream and Steak and Grits with a seasonal greens salad. - Cafes Near Me - Portland, Oregon

So, so yummy and professional, but with the feel of your friend's garage party / neighborhood hidden gem / best kept secret while also being on the NYT's best restaurants in Portland list! I'm already planning a way to make it back for brunch, but the classics for dinner did not disappoint! Pomodoro pie topped with stracciatella was PERFECT, thin crisp crust and seasoned beautifully. Their dilly ranch has inspired me to add more dill to ranch but also everything else. The chitarra pasta was al dente and had a silky smooth tomato sauce, and was the perfect second course. Finally the olive oil cake with blueberry compote and their amazing whipped cream was delighful and not too heavy! The service was quick and we didn't sense a long wait even around prime weekend dinner time. read more

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Came for brunch with fellow yelp elite Sara A. She has been singing Olli's praises for a while. We arrived just before the opened so that we could secure a table at 9. Service was prompt, friendly, and attentive. We shared the French toast and porridge. sara also had the cappuccino, which I will have to try next time if I can prevent myself from drinking coffee first thing in the morning. The food was delicious and just the right amount- we even left a little French toast on the plate (very difficult!) it was a great idea to share a savory and sweet item. If I went with someone who didn't want to share, I'd probably order a savory item with a fresh pastry on the side. read more

Cafe Olli - French toast and savory porridge - Cafes Near Me - Portland, Oregon

We had a lovely night at Cafe Olli with friends. The food and drinks were delicious. We particularly liked the arancini, kalettes and corona beans. Our server was lovely, down to earth and friendly. Similarly to a lot of reviewers on here, our party felt the establishment would benefit from baking the 20% health and wellness fee into menu prices. We are parents of young children and don't get out much and weren't aware if this is a more consistent occurrence in the past few years. I had a vague recollection of other establishments that had done this in the past, but at a lower rate. This led to a lot of unneeded confusion and stress at the end of the meal. With our group engaging in friendly debate on if the fee covered our server's gratuity or not. When I asked our server for clarification on if this fee covers gratuity, they were of course so sweet in saying we weren't obligated to leave gratuity, but no, the fee provides the staff with support in other ways. Of course, I wasn't willing to leave without giving them a tip even with this generous response. Essentially the fee came off as a lack of transparency in pricing. I would urge owners and management to reconsider how they communicate pricing to provide an improved experience for patrons. read more

We were looking forward to the tea event for mother's Day. We were a group of 5, including 2 children ages 2 and 5. Total bill was $400 with extra beverages (limeade). We were shown to our shared table with other customers with barely a hello from staff, a tray of sweets (how long was that sitting there?) already on the table and they finally took our tea order 20 min later. Then came a platter of savory bites. It felt like stale leftovers were being served and less than acceptable service was offered. A very expensive excursion for a not very enjoyable experience! Won't be back read more

Place really nice with a huge brick oven in center of the Cafe. Staff are friendly and will try help you decide what are the best to try. They have a limited cocktail list but the food were great specially the braised pork just need a little acid, pizza good too and I enjoy the panna cotta. read more

Cafe Olli - Milk braised pork - Cafes Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Came back recently and it still delivers on the expert cooking. Looks like now both lunch and dinner are table service, instead of the casual counter service they used to do for lunch. Service is great, and I always like the option of the covered patio when I have my dog along. For a recent dinner, I got the roasted zucchini that was beautifully plated and the zucchini was cooked so well, tender yet firm (most places often overcooked zucchini, but this wasn't). I also had the Italian sausage pizza and it was good, with great flavor in the crust. The center is a bit wet and soggy, so it can be flimsy, but still great flavor. read more

Cafe Olli - roasted zucchini sat on a spiced yogurt dip - Cafes Near Me - Portland, Oregon

THE best dining experience we've had in a quite a while! Everything was amazing. The chickpea salad; roasted carrots; margherita pizza; and strawberry crisp ice cream were all creatively prepared. And delicious. The parsley soda was so good, I had two. (And while we didn't have coffee on this visit, we were pleased to see so many choices on the menu, including affogato.) The staff was very welcoming and friendly. We both agreed that we've found our new neighborhood spot. read more

Cafe Olli - Cafe Olli (MLK, PDX) - Cafes Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Great meal at Cafe Olli! Loved the salads, pizzas and a pork shoulder dish. Portions are large, but delicious (one pizza and a salad could easily satisfy two). Appreciated the vegetable options as the salads were definitely standouts. Also enjoyed our cocktails. Our server was very helpful. read more

Sooo yummy for pizza! Came here for an early birthday dinner with friends. It was my first time trying Cafe Olli but the photos looked delicious. I'm not a huge pizza person but I'm always down to try a new restaurant. We got the mushroom pizza, sprouted farro, fava puree, brisket and pasta. Everything was good, brisket was a little dry but overall, would order most of the dishes again. The pizza was my favorite. There were potatoes chunks on top and I'm a sucker for potatoes. There's also a 20% gratuity added on top and they do a sliding scale community meal for those experiencing hardship. Love the idea and hope to be back again soon! read more

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Friendly wait staff. Good lighting. Lots of space. Stopped by for a solo lunch and the Italian sausage pizza was great! Definitely wanted to try other things but couldn't order everything for just solo dining read more

Cafe Olli - Italian sausage pizza - Cafes Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Food was good, especially their bread. The general atmosphere was lovely. Would go back read more

Cafe Olli - Cafes Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Went into Cafe Olli to order something for takeout. The restaurant was clean and had a relaxed vibe. The staff were friendly. I ordered the Mortadella Sandwich. The portion size was good and the taste was great. The restaurant charges an automatic 20% health and wellness fee, so be aware before you go. read more

Cafe Olli - Mortadella sando - Cafes Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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I had dinner at Cafe Olli tonight, and the food was truly delicious. The service was prompt and polite, but the current seating and reservation policies feel very unwelcoming. We had a 5:00 PM reservation and were told immediately upon seating that we had to vacate by 7:00 PM. This was then repeated mid-meal and again at 6:57 PM. While the staff was polite about it, being told to leave our table three times did not feel very hospitable. I also noticed a family with a young child turned away from indoor seating at 5:00 PM (an off-peak hour) because they didn't have a reservation. They tried to sit outside, but it seemed too cold, so they left. Ironically, several tables for two remained empty for the entire two hours we were there. This "snooty" approach to walk-ins and the time limits is discouraging & a shame, as the kitchen is clearly talented. I hope they reconsider their attitude toward hospitality. I'd love to return, but only if the hospitality policy becomes as warm as the food. read more

What a lovely group of employees. Each person was cheerful and personalizable. That always contributes to a happy experience. Amazing and quite large pizza. We ordered the Supreme and it was delightful. Excellent meatballs, fresh mozzarella cheese and expertly charred crust. The sliced chilies added the perfect amount of spice. The Farro Salad was also delicious. Light dressing, lots of crunch and very filling. Lastly, my Sparkling Lemonade was the exact amount of sour that I adore. Thank you for a superior lunch. Will be back! read more

Cafe Olli - Supreme Pizza. Loved the meatballs , fresh mozzarella and chile peppers. - Cafes Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Everything was amazing! The staff were super friendly and accommodating. They cook basically everything on a wood fire oven. Food was delicious and we left no crumbs. Top teir espresso too! Everything didn't feel heavy at all, good energy food! We went on a Sunday morning and were able to be seated fairly quickly, depending on the time you go there can be a wait but we got lucky. NO RESERVATIONS only waitlist and you must be in person to be placed on it. read more

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My kids had be raving about Cafe Olli and I finally made it to Portland to try. Ambiance was bright and light! It's a quaint place that fills up fast. Sat at the counter and chatted with friendly staff. We watched them prepare the meals and every meal looked amazing! The food was so flavorful and you can tell very fresh. For a busy Saturday night our food came quick. Staff were really friendly and we left there with a happy heart and a full belly! Cannot wait to visit again! read more

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Small amount of indoor seating so we sat outside. I do have to say the outdoor heaters are not that hot and the service is kind of slow so would not recommend sitting out there on a real cold day but the waiter was great and accommodating. We ordered the beef tartar, really delicious, had a lot of additives that added some variety to the flavor. Ordered the crab salad which also was very good and fresh. We actually liked the starter and salad more than the pizzas tbh. The marinated olives were warm and were so delicious, and I don't even like olives lol. We ordered the potato/brussel sprout pizza & the mushroom pizza. Both were pretty decent, I would try the other ones next time though. The chocolate cake was amazing, the frosting was spot on. The cheesecake was very light and lemony which was a surprise. I enjoyed it but would choose the chocolate cake over. read more

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The 20% "health and wellness" fee is absurd and completely invalidates anything positive I would otherwise have to say about this restaurant. It is not a tip and if it's printed anywhere on the menu, it's certainly not readily apparent. read more

Some of the dishes are insanely overpriced, "lasagna was a joke ". Tagliatelle, maybe 20 noodles for $30 ? Good service but the food is just alright with crazy prices read more

We had a really delicious dinner at Cafe Olli tonight. Everything was excellent and the chefs in the kitchen looked like they were having an absolute blast (we sat the counter and had a great view). Highly recommend the margherita pizza in particular. The service is a little bit slow, but I think they pace the meal in an intentional way. My only gripe is the prices -- they're pretty steep. $30 for pasta is intense. Everything was delicious but I'm not totally convinced the prices were justified, especially with the 20% service fee tacked on. read more

Have eaten here several times and the food has always been great. Have had different pizzas, ricotta toast and breakfast items. All great. Service has always been great too BUT Not so great is adding a 20% wellness fee on top of a spendy menu. We had 2 breakfast plates - eggs, bacon, toast n salad and one coffee, one drink and it cost us almost $90 with a tip! For 2 simple breakfasts. Adding 20% tip +20% tip makes this meal insanely expensive. I love what you're doing for your staff, but 20% is simply too much and then adding a tip on top-meals are expensive to begin with so don't think I'll be coming here again because of the cost. read more

Always delicious. Period. Service was prompt and friendly and the restaurant is always clean and inviting, with a lot of natural light. They have indoor and heated outdoor seating, which is helpful on the weekends because it gets busy... so get there early! read more

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Would've given 5 stars if I had tried some of the food myself. Everything was on point, staff was great, good ambiance, and overall great vibe. Chocolate cake was insane and supremely delicious. Great dessert stop. Don't miss out. Gotta come back and try the pizza. My dining mates had theirs. read more

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