If you find yourself in Friday Harbor, you absolutely have to visit this spot. My top tip: make a reservation. This place fills up fast, and after dining there, it's easy to see why! Our party of three visited for lunch at noon on a Thursday. Since we had a reservation, we were seated immediately at a lovely table right by the window. The atmosphere was great, and the staff were incredibly courteous and friendly throughout our meal. We initially thought about starting with some small plates, but we were so eager for seafood that we jumped straight into the entrees. We weren't disappointed: Bouillabaisse: This was our first time trying this dish, and it was the highlight for us. It was incredibly flavorful--exactly what we were craving. Spicy Prawn Mac and Cheese: It definitely lived up to its name! It wasn't "blow-your-head-off" hot, but it had a perfect, noticeable kick that really elevated the dish. Blackened Cod Tacos: These were fantastic. The cod was perfectly prepared and worked so well with the rest of the taco ingredients. We also enjoyed a couple of non-alcoholic drinks that hit the spot, though I'll admit that since I'm writing this a couple of weeks later, I forgot to snag photos or the specific names of the drinks! They also have a really nice patio area if you prefer dining outdoors. Whether you're a seafood lover or just looking for a great meal with a view, this place is a must-visit! read more

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A lovely restaurant tucked at the edge of Friday Harbor. While the views were stunning, the service was just ok. For the nature of the restaurant, we had hoped for our waitress to be more friendly and genuine. However, it felt like they just wanted to fulfill our order and be done. I ordered the South Sound Clams and Snapper Sandwich. Bathing in an umami-packed and rich Thai curry broth, the clams were tender and fresh with a bit of brine. Very good and shareable with one other person. The snapper sandwich wowed me! The bright escovitch and creamy avocado paired wonderfully with the snapper. Every bite was delightful. The house-made potato chips, however, were disappointing. They were thin, not crispy, and sticking to my teeth. If you can, substitute for fries or salad. Despite our subpar service, the delicious, well-priced food and beautiful scenery still make this the perfect date spot. read more

This was the best meal, my boyfriend and I had when we came to Friday Harbor for our 5 year anniversary. We started off with 2 oyster shooters, 2 westcott oysters, and 2 judd cove oysters. All the oysters were fresh, I would say the one I liked the most were the Judd Cove oysters because they were just so creamy. For our main meals, we ordered the Scallop Gnocchi and Pan Seared Salmon with a mocktail. The Scallop Gnocchi was cooked to perfection! It was crispy, but at the same time it was soft and pillowy. The Pan Seared Salmon was also great. The sauces and the brussel sprouts complimented the dish well. The mocktail reminded me of a margarita, I got the hibiscus ginger , it had tajin on the rim. Since it was our 5 year anniversary, we got to choose a dessert to have for the occasion. We chose this marshmellow dessert, which was divine. It also surprisingly wasn't that sweet. We had it served with some tea. I'm so glad we came here for our anniversary. the staff really treats you well. We even got a view of the water. read more

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We came on Valentine's Day and thankfully we planned ahead and had reservations since it was busy! We were there at 6:30pm and the wait, I heard, would be 45-60min for a table without one. Upon seating, they were out of some dishes and items, like potato chips, pomegranate, a couple fried items, etc. Our server was great and helped us decided. We were very indecisive. The menu was kind of all over the place, to be honest, it hard to understand what their main theme was. American? Italian? Seafood? They had a fried rice dish for the V-day special. We got their burger, which was pretty good. The butternut squash risotto was okay. I included shrimp and they were cooked nicely. Their clam appetizer was good and were local. Their drinks were delicious though! I got myself two mojitos and I don't usually drink. read more

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My ribeye was very good, as was the service. The ambiance was bright and modern. We will come back here on our next trip. read more

Downriggers - Medium rare bone-in ribeye steak over mashed potatoes with asparagus - American Near Me - Friday Harbor, Washington

My wife and I stopped into Downriggers for a light snack while exploring the island. Free street parking can be found. Discover is an accepted form of payment. Two lines were formed at the hostess stand, one for reservations and the other for walk-ins. A 20% service charge is added to parties of 6+. Paraphernalia can be purchased. We requested to be seated outside and were seated at a table without an umbrella where we baked in the sun. While deciding on our light lunch, my wife had a SJI Pale Ale and I had a Reuben's Crikey IPA for $8 each. We ordered the Crab Deviled Eggs for $10. Eggs is misleading since it suggests plural. One egg, halved is what is served for $10. We opted to add an additional egg for $3.50, making the order plural. We shared a cup of Clam Chowder for $8: bacon, potatoes, clams, onions, celery and carrots in a creamy new England style broth. Garnished with oyster crackers. The view was lovely. Staff was aloof. Food and beer seemed overpriced to me. Overall, Downriggers held us over until our next dining stop. read more

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Had a quick snack and drinks while waiting for the ferry back to Orcas. Great views with friendly and attentive servers. Would like to have dinner here someday when we return to Orcas. read more

Downriggers - Menu - American Near Me - Friday Harbor, Washington

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You pay for the ambience and the food is good, but not great. They were out of shellfish which was pretty disappointing. I really liked their fish and chips highlighted by the thin crisp batter and the malt vinegar aioli. The prawn mac and cheese has minimal flavor and the prawns are just small with tails on. Becomes more of a hassle. Great service from our waitress and beautiful views of the Harbor. read more

Lunch with friends during a Port call in Friday Harbor, Washington and chose Downriggers, an American style bar and grill located on the harbor. It's a clean, modern style of architecture, nicely situated with a harbor view. They have a well rounded menu with some interesting items. For starters we ordered dungess crab tots - outstanding! It comes as an order of four. Made with crab, shredded potato and herbs served with house made tarter sauce that is very good. For lunch, Jan and I ordered a bowl of clam chowder. It was excellent. Amy ordered the smoked salmon plate, also excellent. Steve ordered the turkey pesto sandwich with house made potato chips, also excellent. The restrauant was busy and the service was very good. The noise levels were low. The prices moderate/high. read more

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My husband and I just finished eating here. We are snobs when it comes to good food and service. I was about to get super snobby because we ordered and everyone around us was getting their food but they were getting things like sandwiches and burgers so I held back. Then our food came. We had ordered the crab deviled eggs, a house and ceased starter salad, he ordered the bouillabaisse and I had the prawn Mac and cheese. The deviled eggs were a little bland. Not deviled eggs. Just crab plopped on boiled eggs, in my opinion. (I went to college in the south, I know good deviled eggs.) The salads were perfectly fine. What stopped me and made me reconsider my bad mood about the wait was the food. My Mac and cheese has a good emulsified cheese sauce and there's an arugula mix on top that has some vinegar to is. I thought it was odd, but combined it really makes a well balanced dish. However, the star of the show, the bouillabaisse is what blew my socks off. The seafood was all prepared at correct times so nothing was over cooked. The tomato base was delicious and had that slight grit of homemade from tomatoes that you get when, well, you make something homemade. The restaurant has a delightful, clean, modern decor with only a touch of seaside whimsy. I will agree, they need a new host or hostess. When we got there we waited. Then when we left there were four parties waiting. Our waitress was good though. read more

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August 11, 2025 - Friday Harbor, WA Our first visit to Friday Harbor had us eager to explore and find a great lunch spot. As the ferry pulled in, Downriggers caught our eye with its waterfront patio and inviting vibe. We decided to see if we could get a table. There was a waitlist for the patio--about a half hour--so the hostess took our number, and we wandered off to browse a few nearby shops. We returned about 20 minutes later to find our table ready and waiting. My husband ordered the Albacore Poke appetizer ($18), while I went with the Buddha Bowl--brown rice, quinoa, spiced pepitas, vegetables, and black bean slaw ($23). Both were fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. As we enjoyed our lunch, I kept noticing a luscious lavender-colored drink making its way to other tables, so I finally gave in and ordered one. The Lavender Lemonade (butterfly pea flower-infused vodka and house-made lemonade, $12) was as refreshing as it was pretty--perfect for a warm island afternoon. Between the delicious food, harbor view, and relaxed atmosphere, Downriggers was a great choice for our first taste of Friday Harbor. read more

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A very consistent nice meal. I enjoyed a cup of clam chowder, that was super rich and creamy. A house salad with shrimp and a garlic dressing. Creamy Gorgonzola and candied pecans gave a savory and sweet flavor with the nice crunch of the pecans. We are boaters and end up in Friday Harbor several times per year and Downriggers is a consistent favorite. We enjoyed several glasses of wine and a mixed berry cobbler for dessert...all good. Our service was great and attentive with several folks assisting us. read more

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This is a favorite spot whenever my husband and I visit the island. The food is always delicious and the servers are lovely. When the weather is good, we enjoy sitting outside but indoors is nice too. The crab and artichoke dip is absolutely delightful! Big fan of their vinegar aioli with French fries too. Can't wait to be back soon to enjoy all that Downriggers has to offer. read more

Downriggers - Crab Deviled Eggs, French Fries Malt Vinegar Aioli, Crab Artichoke Dip*** - American Near Me - Friday Harbor, Washington

Coconut Margarita, Coconut Margarita, Coconut Margarita! You'll understand once you try them. Great clam chowder and the Chicken Gorgonzola Salad will rock your world! Great service and super view of Friday Harbor. We'll be back soon! read more

Downriggers - Coconut Margaritas, so good! - American Near Me - Friday Harbor, Washington

After a busy day on the water and in Canada, we came back to the island around 7:30pm. Not many restaurants are open in Friday Harbor past 8:00pm, but to our luck, Downrigger was right by the harbor! I made reservations for my family and me the morning of. I'm glad we did because there can be a short wait if people come off the ferry and whale watching tours. When we arrived, our table was ready and they had a list of rules for our dog. They are dog-friendly but have rules you need to abide by. We sat outside which was a beautiful view overlooking the harbor. Inside was spacious and busy! I found the service to be all right. It seemed like our waitress was ready to be off, not very personable, or informed. We shared the Crab Deviled Eggs which left more to be desired. Barely any flavor of crab and no seasoning for the egg. For my meal, I had the South Sound Clams. They were not good! The clams were mushy which makes me think they weren't probably cooked after being frozen. The sauce was fine, but very thick and the clams masked in the sauced. This was not my favorite meal and I struggled to eat it. My family had their food and ate it all, no complaints. Downrigger is one of the popular restaurants in Friday Harbor. The views are nice and it's in close proximity but the food isn't the best. The restaurant is easy to find off Front Street. There's free street parking all around. read more

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Come for the rude hostess and okay food but stay for the views. Downriggers is located right on the water so the view is beautiful. Reservations are recommended as outside seating gets taken up first. Unfortunately, the host was rude to our party and very short. It seems that Yelp and Google reviews mention a rude hostess so looks like that was true. The food was just okay - nothing special. The steak was overcooked and the prawns were bland. There was nothing special with the burger or the fish. Overall a popular spot with beautiful views but that's about it - subpar service and okay pricey food. read more

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This restaurant is in one of the most beautiful locations you can find so they really don't need to try too hard. The food is good. The scallops snd gnocchi got very high praise but the salmon was a bit over done. The waitress Olivia was amazing - she was helpful, funny, entertaining. She made the evening!! Go quick before she leaves and island. read more

By far the best meal I had on San Juan island. The portions here were fantastic, the service here was great, and the views of the docks outside were so dreamy. We were here for a private event--a wedding party--and I find myself still thinking about this place weeks later. The menu was set but honestly I'm not complaining about that at all. The choices were fantastic no matter what you got. Pretty much everything you get is a highlight. The dungeness crab tots are so addictive and the clam chowder is super yummy. For dinner, you absolutely cannot skip the rib-eye. It's a huge slab of meat, but it was seasoned to perfection and grilled nicely. The s'mores dessert was a bit too sweet, but it's great for those with a sweet tooth of steel. If you're going to San Juan Island, you absolutely have to make a stop here. I'm so serious. read more

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Have been here a few times and never disappointed. Had the crab dip, flat iron steak, and my partner had the ribeye. Crab dip was warm and packed with crab. Only point of criticism is that a few pieces of the crostini were a bit too crisp. My flat iron was delicious, cooked perfectly with beautifully roasted carrots and silky mashed potatoes. My partner's ribeyes also cooked perfectly and super flavorful. Paired my meal with a Cab. Was perfect to cut through the richness of the steak. Service was friendly and attentive and beautiful views of the harbor. Will definitely be back! read more

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Tried this place out after reading all the great reviews and asking a lady at our hotel if this place was any good. I would say it's okay. It isn't awful but it isn't a must try, i ended up having to grab a small pizza after leaving here though. I did love the atmosphere and beautiful ocean view. Crab deviled eggs - 3/10 nothing special and I'd skip, we were excited to try these but they let us down. Salmon with coconut veggie puree - 9/10 it was on their special menu so I'm not sure if they have it often but if they do it's definitely worth a try. The salmon was perfectly cooked and the puree was delicious. Wagyu burger - 0/10 it was lacking flavor. I asked to get it without bacon due to religious reasons but it tasted and smelled like bacon which grossed me out. I ended up only taking three bites and taking it home to my husband. He thought it smelled and tasted like bacon also without me mentioning it, I hate throwing food away but we had to with this burger. Service - 5/10 we had a reservation but upon arriving we were left waiting for the host for 5-7 mins before being seated. Bus boy was very polite and nice, he kept clearing dishes and pouring water, very nice young man, he is the one I'm giving 5 stars to. Waitress was okay, she disappeared right before closing while there was just us and two other tables left. We were waiting to pay our bill for 15 mins. The stars are for the salmon, view , and the kind young bus boy. read more

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Beautiful restaurant and great location right at the harbor. The food was okay but overpriced for what we got. Our waitress seemed to be having a bad day and we felt tolerated by her and not much else. We got the feeling she couldn't get rid of us fast enough and we had no excessive requests nor any complaints. Made for an ok experience that had the potential of being great. read more

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Cora was our charming server. We receded right away and Cora was very busy but we've lacked for nothing because she was so attentive. When the food came out it's stunning. You just wanna look at see what everybody else is eating so you can order some of what they're having. I highly recommend coming here plus the view over the water is just wonderful with this view. five star. I came here with my family and we enjoyed every moment of it and I would totally return again. Thank you for your hospitality Cora. You made this old Vietnam veteran very happy. read more

Downriggers - Deck View - American Near Me - Friday Harbor, Washington

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Can't fault the service, the sweeping view of Friday Harbor or the ambiance --- this place has all three. What it didn't have was mussels, or salmon, or poke -- which, frankly, is what I came here to eat. Not their fault they sold out, but still a disappointment for me. It's pretty pricy, which I wasn't surprised by, considering the view and location. Im sure this place gets jammed come dinnertime, so probably best to make a reservation. read more

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Great food, great service. We had burgers and cod sandwich. The chips were great, the fry's were salty. Great music, chill vibe. Beautiful views. read more

Came here again after several years and it's the same convenient spot near the ferry terminals with great views and okay food. The best dish we've had is their fish tacos, it's always a hit. Chowder was fair but could have used more clams, and the Caesar salad needed a little more tang in the dressing. Service was fast and friendly though a tad absent after we got our food. read more

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What a fantastic dinner! We walked in without a reservation and were seated inside right away--super easy and relaxed experience. The patio looked beautiful, right on the marina, perfect for a sunset dinner next time. We shared a fresh, delicious salad and the seafood risotto, which was absolutely spot on, great flavor, perfectly cooked seafood, and generous portions. Our server was incredible, friendly, knowledgeable, and super accommodating. You could tell they really cared about making sure we had a great experience. Highly recommend if you're looking for a quality meal in a scenic, welcoming spot! read more

We started with the crab dip and it was decadent and then we decided we needed just one more little bite and we had the crab stuffed deviled eggs and they were amazingly yummy. The service was spectacular and we enjoyed the majestic views. read more

Downriggers - Crab stuffed Crab Deviled Eggs - American Near Me - Friday Harbor, Washington

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An interesting experience. Many local and one mom and son came in for dessert only. We had to try the crab tots. These were crispy and hot and inside had. Nice mix of crab. We did enjoy these, great flavor and the tartar sauce went very well. It is a bit oniony so keep that in mind. These are fairly large so share them. The fish and chips were good, maybe a little overcooked, still flavorful and even seasoned like they should be. The Caesar salad with Shrimp was cold and crisp and the perfect amount of dressing. I ordered the large and it was very large! Plenty of perfectly cooked shrimp as well. We took dessert back to our room for later because we were stuffed. The cheesecake we ate later was the best. It was dense and creamy like it should be. Service was quick and friendly. The ambiance would have been better if a mom didn't allow her child to run and slide inside an open booth by us. He was a bit much and mom didn't care. The ones who came in for dessert was super cute and was polite and well behaved. He was so excited to eat his chocolate cake it was fun to watch. Food and set ice were excellent and I would recommend a visit here. read more

Downriggers - Dining - American Near Me - Friday Harbor, Washington

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Appetizers and drinks were awesome; loved the calamari and crab tots. Nice atmosphere, low warm light and comfy industrial-lite feel. However, entrees left more to be desired. Mac n Cheese was very liquidy and very few prawns, (spice was good!) And chicken was served burnt. Served half a cider cause tap was being weird, which is fine. But it was strange that they charged for half of the drink. I've never seen that before, usually places just wave the fee for an incomplete order. This was the first time I've seen someone still charge. Group still had a good time, but just found the experience underwhelming. read more

We enjoyed our drinks and dinner here with great views, friendly service, and yummy food. I found the menu hard to navigate--having French onion soup, a small salmon option with a vegetable would have been great. As I write, I wish I had asked about a side of salmon with the house salad. I bet that's a great option. I had the burger--it was tasty, and I have half to eat tomorrow, so I fared well. It's pretty, offers good food, and excellent service. We'll be back for more. read more

We walked in around noon and got a table outside with a great view, no wait required. Our waiter had a calm, helpful demeanor, which I really appreciated. I ordered the cold brew, which was pretty standard, and the fried snapper sandwich, which was fantastic. The fish was flaky with no fishy smell, and the spicy slaw was chef's kiss. The mac and cheese can be made vegetarian by substituting mushrooms, and it was really flavorful. Just a heads up, it has a bit of a kick. I'd definitely come back. read more

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Great views, food and service! You pay for the views and in my option they are best on the island for eating.

Make a reservation. The food and view were outstanding. The service was amazing. Our server was amazing. read more

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Chilly, rainy day of sightseeing. We decided to try this place, as it was recommended for its clam chowder which was thick, hot and good. I ordered a Washington melot, he ordered the bull jelp esb local beer. Both were good. We splurged on the fresh halibut fish and chips $38. Fries well done and battered fish were both excellent. read more

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We felt completely abandoned at our table. Other tables were also grumbling. They seat you and then completely ignore you. After 45 minutes of minimal interaction and no food, we finally told them to just box up our order and give us our bill. We are--or, were --regular patrons, and I honestly don't think we'll be back. The service and experience were that disappointing. For a $75 lunch, I expect much more. I hope you guys figure out these kinks; I can't imagine the staff was having a good day either. Your patrons certainly weren't. read more

I am so glad we made reservations as this place was packed! I didn't take any pictures of food but just need to trust me that the downriggers burger was delicious! My husband ordered the chicken and it was tasty too! Not dry and quite savory. I am so happy they were able to accommodate to my request of a perfect view of the water. Despite how packed they were, surprisingly the food came out timely. I would go again next time I'm in town read more

Downriggers - American Near Me - Friday Harbor, Washington

I made a reservation for 5 people at 11am Sunday and it was not busy, but given we went during "shoulder season" right before the summer, I wasn't surprised. But it did feel a bit busy closer to 12pm so a reservation was recommended. This place is conveniently located near the Friday Harbor ferry and seaplane areas. We tried the dungeness crab tots, crab deviled eggs, spicy prawn mac and cheese, and bouillabaisse. The crab tots were large tater tots, 6 pieces for $21 which is a bit pricy, and it did not feel like there was much crab inside. I would not recommend. However, I would 100% recommend the crab deviled eggs - fresh, delicious, and generous amounts of crab meat at 3 for $7 ($2.50 for additional egg). As we had 5 people, it made better sense to just get 2 orders, and this was a crowd favorite, which is no surprise it is one of the more popular dishes. Spicy prawn mac and cheese was very substantial and the prawns were fresh. I would get this one as a better priced entree that is fairly filling. Bouillabaisse had shrimp, scallop, cod, prawns, potatoes, clams, and grilled baguette. However, the dish did not match up the ingredients, as there was no scallop nor clams but rather salmon and mussels. Feels a little misleading so -1 star, especially given that this dish is priced at $42. Additionally, while the seafood was fresh, the dish was forgetful in flavor, with the grilled baguette butter dominating the flavors of the dish. -1 star for the service. Hostess was nice, but it would have been better if I had to not repeat myself multiple times on reservation details. I stated in reservation notes for indoor seating by the window or outdoor seating if weather is nice, then I called about running late and they were okay with it and they asked inside or outside, so I stated outside since the weather was nice. Then, I checked in and the hostess still asked me if I wanted inside or outside, despite clarifying my preference 20 min ago. Additionally, I asked for an extra napkin to the waiter twice and never gotten napkins, a huge miss on service. At least water refills were present but was not enough to make up for a gap in service especially for a restaurant of this price point. Despite the hiccups, I would recommend this place for the location, views, and food. read more

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Fresh, delicious seafood - what could be better?! I dropped by after getting in line for the ferry nearby. I phoned in my order and was able to pickup my lunch sandwich and salad in about 20 minutes. The lunch menu was so full of yummy options it was hard to narrow it down to just two items. The young people working here were very friendly and helpful and I enjoyed my lunch on the dock before getting in the car for the long ride home. I will for sure be ordering from them again in the future. Or next time if I have more time, I'll see what their dining room is like! read more

Snobby home town uppity staff. Wow. Honestly have been too more "high class big money" cities and not seen people treated like crap unless your a local. Oh if you're a local by all means go by the waitresses and staff are just beyond excited and happy to serve you. All around to be honest without the snooty non serving staff. The drinks were awesome. The food was just ok. I'd go downstairs to the oyster place or find another on the water! Ambiance wasn't good either again if you weren't a local we all could tell how we were being treated. Try Orca island!!! read more

DownRiggers was an okay restaurant. It wasn't terrible, but the experience was also somewhat disappointing. The service: Now, only two people at my table were asked what they wanted to drink. The rest of us weren't asked and instead we were just given water. The service honestly just felt reluctant, like the servers didn't really want to be there. However, the people who constantly filled up water at tables were super nice and awesome. The food: The food was good, all the orders were correct. The environment: There was some elegant furniture and it was obvious they tried to have that vibe, but it didn't entirely succeed. The restaurant itself was very loud, tables felt crowded together and a little too close, which in turn made it feel messy. It's dimly lit inside, as well, and the menus felt old and flimsy. Final thoughts: In all honesty, it wasn't terrible, but I probably won't be going back. read more

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