I've heard a lot of good things about El Guapo from a lot of my friends, but I've never had the opportunity to try it out for myself. I was running my dad around and he wanted to get tacos for Cinco de Mayo. This seemed like as good an opportunity as any to try out, El Guapo. We came by shortly after they opened for lunch. It is very spacious inside the first thing I noticed was how large their bar is. We were seated right away and the waitress brought out water while we looked at the menu. I just had to get a margarita and my dad chose to get a corona light beer. Wow we were still trying to decide. The waitress dropped off some chips and salsa. The chips were fresh and crisp like they had just been made in house. The salsa also tasted like it was homemade. It was very mild with a little bit of a smoky flavor, but not too spicy. It was also not very chunky which I prefer. For my meal I went with the Birria tacos. It came with three tacos, a side of black beans, and rice. The tacos were delicious. The meat had a good flavor and they provided plenty of the Birria sauce to dip them in. They play started to get packed around 1 o'clock when we were leaving. I'll be interested in coming back for a happy hour or a late night evening to sit at the bar. read more

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A group of four of us visited for lunch. None of us liked our food. It wasn't terrible but it wasn't good enough to come back. I liked their homemade corn tortillas. Service was so so. I had to get tableware and napkins from the server station. No water refills. read more

Recently heard about their 35 buck all you can eat and drink weekend brunch special. Came out on a Sunday at about 1. It was packed. So it's advised you make a reservation. Each reservation is for 2 hrs. You get to order as much as you want from their brunch menu. Servings are tapas style. The style reminds me of the old cava brunch style. While here I had the following: French toast- nicely cooked. Loved the flavor and blueberry and whipped toppings. Steak and eggs- evenly cooked and prepped to perfection. I loved the chimi sauce on top of the steak. Chicken taquitos- packs a punch. Crisp and deelish. Birria Quesadilla-meaty and adequately cooked. Loved the serving size. Spicy Bloody Maria- very boozy and did not disappoint. Would've loved some horseradish in it as well. Our server Taylor was awesome. She was on top of service and had a great personality. The manager Dixon came over to greet our table. He let us know that in addition to the upstairs, they have a barcade speakeasy in the basement. We checked that out on this visit as well. The game room was chock full of throwback games and new! Also going on during this visit was a day party. Talk about one stop shopping. I'll definitely check them out again for brunch! read more

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It's incredible that I've never written a review for El Guapo. I moved to the area in early March, and I've been here four or five times since then. The food is always fresh and delicious, but what keeps bringing me back is the atmosphere. It's warm, welcoming, and has the kind of true neighborhood feel that's hard to find. I still remember coming here on March 18 to pick up carryout for my brother's birthday dinner. That evening, I met a bartender whose kindness made me feel like I belonged in my new neighborhood. I can't remember her name, but her warmth left a lasting impression. Today I'm sitting at the bar with Kay, and she reminded me why I keep coming back. The first time we spoke, I thought she was just another customer sitting at the bar. She greeted me warmly and struck me as a genuinely nice person. Seeing her behind the bar today brought that memory right back and made me realize something: the kindness here isn't part of a script...it's simply who the people are. Watch the staff interact with each other and with customers, and you'll see what I mean. No place is perfect, but there's a calm, positive energy here that makes people feel comfortable and welcome. El Guapo has quietly become my favorite neighborhood spot because I know I'll find good food, good energy, and genuinely good people. Whether you're a regular or a first-time guest, you feel like you belong. Thank you to Kay and the entire team for creating a place where people can relax, connect, and enjoy themselves. In a world that can sometimes feel rushed and impersonal, that means more than you know. read more

El Guapo - ground beef burrito bowl - Mexican Near Me - Catonsville, Maryland

I ordered birria quesadillas because my go to spot was closed and I genuinely would have been better off having sleep for dinner. I love beans but the entire quesadilla tasted like beans and the consome was even worse. I used the consome I had leftover from El Pueblito Restaurant and it made the quesadillas easier to eat but I won't be ordering from here again read more

One of my favorite places to visit. Love the arcade games. The area is always clean. I got a chicken burrito and a side of their famous salsa. Do not sleep on this food. Made to order and comes out hot! The service could be a bit faster. They should have more than one bartender at night. It gets really packed. But the service is always polite and accommodating. You can bring your kids here to play the arcade games if you choose. They have a few state of the art games including a zombie game. I'm always coming back. read more

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Well this is a vibe ..... came for a private party this place is spacious. Kid friendly but definitely in the basement it gives a bar feel. We had the taco bar for the event and they were ok. The servers were late with keeping of refilled but good nonetheless. Lots of arcade games ping pong tables and bar games. The highlight for me was the bar wheel. $6 spin the wheel and you have to drink whatever it lands on. Now that was fun. Parking is confusing . I parked across the street in the shopping center. Bathroom was decent. Overall worth stopping in. read more

El Guapo - Mexican Near Me - Catonsville, Maryland

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Came in and sat at the bar... margarita was just a huge miss. All sour mix and it was very sweet. I didn't finish it or even put a dent in it. We got fajitas, nachos and chori queso. Queso was the best thing we got. Food just needs more seasoning. Nachos were a generous portion. Restaurant ambiance was pretty typical. Service wasn't bad. They told us the frozen marg wasn't worth ordering so we did appreciate that they warned us it wasn't good. read more

Really enjoyed a quick bite here! The tacos were all very good, but of course we were stuffed after eating the complimentary chips and salsa, and our app queso with chorizo, both of which were delicious. Our bartender was really nice, steered us in the right direction while we were deciding on menu items and cocktails. The music and interior were really nice, the murals on the walls were so pretty. read more

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We had so much fun here as adults!! I loved the basketball game and air hockey the most. I recommend only using 1 card, because you can't combine them. We ended up with 3 cards for 2 people, with extra unused tokens. read more

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My daughter and I went here for Sunday brunch! They have an all you eat & bottomless drink special that is really worth it. The service was a little slow but they were busy and short staffed so It was fine. The stand outs were the shrimp & grits, french toast and the steak taco! The mimosas were ok, and honestly for the price I have no complaints! read more

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This is a chill bar/restaurant! I've been a few times now, and I was sure I had written a review but here we go. They have decent happy hour specials. My last visit here was for brunch a few months ago. On a Sunday, it wasn't super packed. We had a fairly big group, and they seemed to be short on servers. They offer a bottomless option with unlimited small plates. For the price it's so worth it but the issue was with the service. The manager had to step in to assist but things already went left. The server who was nice in the beginning now had an attitude. Some were waiting for over an hour for items. It got to the point where some people wanted to just leave, but they were told no separate checks. I know at many places, this can be an issue dining out with large groups but in this day and age, it shouldn't be this difficult. The manager agreed to adjust the bill and apologized for the chaos. I said I would give them another chance and I plan to go back in the near future. Lisa at the bar was very sweet. read more

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Great atmosphere! Tacos and margaritas are delicious! Highly recommend spicy marg and queso and chips! Fun spot for trivia also! read more

El Guapo - Mexican Near Me - Catonsville, Maryland

The food was good but the service was terrible. My sever only checked on me one time during our time. She didn't check to see how our food came out or ask if we needed refills on drinks. To top it off, I had to get her attention just for a check. She made sure to check on every table around ours and walked past everytime with no check in. Hope for better service if we decide to come again read more

Whew. Where to begin? I should've known it was going to be an interesting experience when I walked in and the hostess appeared to hate her job. After asking a few questions, my friend and I placed our orders. Weirdly enough, the appetizer (loaded yuca fries) and one entree (3 tacos) came out. No drinks; second entree missing. Nonetheless, we continued our conversation and started munching on the fries. After a few minutes, we asked about the drinks and were told they would be out shortly. The second entree finally comes out and lo & behold, everything is wrong. My friend had specifically asked for corn tortillas, the server doubled confirmed yet 3 tacos on flour tortillas came out. The Maryland crab taco had beans added, when I ordered the same thing and received no beans. We asked about the addition of the beans and was told "that's how it comes". When we tried to refute given my order, we were again told "that's how it is..the toppings are all mixed together." She was then offered two tacos, again on flour tortillas, with nothing but the meat on there. At this point, she requested to just have the street tacos. The drinks finally arrived and the coronita that I ordered came to the table disassembled. When I asked why the Corona was not in the margarita, I was told "that's for you to do. I didn't want to add it in there and it spill over, that's your experience to have." We literally went a good hour without being checked on. To the point that we had to obnoxiously gather our belongings to show that we were ready to do before a server returned to our table so we could ask for the check. The icing on the cake was the automatic 20% gratuity PLUS the 3% surcharge because I used a card. Make my already ridiculously $49 bill a total of $60. Not to mention that the items that my friend ordered street tacos + a margarita flight were not clearly priced on the menu + there were clear discrepancies between what she was charged and what was listed. So when she got her check, she was genuinely surprised. So many other random "wow" moments happened over the course of the evening that just made this a "I'll never be back experience". read more

El Guapo - Mexican Near Me - Catonsville, Maryland

Went to here for drinks. Drinks are pretty good. Had some food. Food was decent and reasonably priced. They do have a happy hour which is a plus not sure when I will be able to return, but my friend swears by the brunch which I need to check out. would recommend. read more

Food was delicious and service could not have been better from the hosts at the door to our amazing waiter. Highly recommend. We also went downstairs to the basement game room for a bit and had a great time read more

Went here on Sunday night for their trivia night - that was well done and low key. They played great music and it was very fun time. The bigger surprise was the great service and good food and all of that was 1/2 off on Sundays!! I had the Pina Colada fries shrimp and they were perfectly crisp, lots of shrimp inside, and a delicious dipping sauce. The guacamole was great - very fresh with small pieces of jalapeno throughout. Drinks were good and the decor was open with plenty of screens. Apparently there is also Sunday night karaoke at 9pm for those of you who don't have Monday morning commitments read more

We had a really fun brunch in the El Guapo basement. My mother-in-law was visiting, so a drag bingo brunch seemed the obvious choice . . . . right? The breakfast food and tacos were great. There old video games around the room, but it seems they shut them off durring shows. My friends definitely were enjoying the mimosas, but since I was driving the mother-in-law around I stuck with coke and water. Sorry I didn't take any photos of the buffet. I was too busy giving the mother-in-law some bills. It's definitely a good time. read more

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Food was mid, not with the $35 brunch buffet plus the automatic 20% gratuity! Couldn't even get my money worth bc it too the waitress foreverrrrr to come around and then additional waiting for the food to come. Mind you, it was only 3 tables when I was in there so why the long wait?!? No I do not recommend this place. read more

I'm super disappointed by El Guapo recently. We've been there twice in the last 2 months, but today's trip really made me write this review. The good: our margaritas were delicious. And at $8, they were fairly priced. My wife had another mixed drink, Blue Jeep was not very sweet and was "mediocre" in her words. We also got the crab and corn dip, which I thought was delicious. It was a great blend of crab and Mexican flavors. My wife's dinner, chicken tacitos were flavorful and delicious. They had a good crunch and were a good portion for the price. The bad: both my mom and myself got the steak fajitas. He specifically had asked if they could make them medium, rare or medium, but they said they don't do that. They did say that they would not come out well done and that they should be pretty juicy. But we got were two stick fajitas where the steak was so incredibly overcooked it. It was like biting rubber. I took one bite and was done. although the server apologized, and offered to remake it, she didn't really seem to care otherwise. I said that I had lost my appetite, and she never followed up to see if I had changed my mind or if they could do anything to make it right. My daughter's chicken tenders were disappointing. They were prepackaged frozen tenders and were not even fully cooked. Again, super disappointed. This has been a place we've enjoyed for years but our recent trips have been disappointing. read more

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Its been a little while since ive been to El Guapo. Tuesdays there was a regular occurrence. So yesterday August 26, 2025 i figured why not. Got in there around 8pm was greeted and put at a table with my 15 month old. It looked like they had about 4 or 5 people on staff which included the bartender. Trying to get service, 15 minutes in everyone is ignoring. Someones cleaning tables, 2 waitresses are hiding in the kitchen, the bartender is busy with 7 or 8 people at the bar area and one waitress or manager is talking to people at a table who what seemed like she knew. No one coming over to even ask for my drink order, water or nothing. My one year is getting upset because hes hungry like i am. 20 minutes in and nothing, no hello's, no service, no drinks, no food, just wasted time. Pretty ridiculous that my time was wasted and my child and i left upset. Probably never returning Thanks for that. read more

Welllllll what can I say... it's $35 for all you can eat tapas and all you can drink. The drinks were delicious and strong. The food was below mid and every single dish we ordered came out cold except for the shrimp and grits which were surprisingly the best thing on the menu. Our server Sarah was delightful and very helpful. Also the restaurant is very cute and festive. It felt like I was on vacation. I would go back for the chips/salsa and drinks next time and skip the tapas. read more

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When I tell you this is now one of my fav happy hour spots. The drinks were drinking honey and the food was scrumptious! The bar tender was very attentive! Definitely gonna run this back! read more

We have been to El Guapo a few times with friends, we go back because the food and drinks are really good and reasonably priced. Our visit last night, really turned me off,though. When we received our check for a party of 4, the establishment had added. 20% tip before totalling. I've seen this as common for larger parties but this is the first time I've seen this and it was not appreciated by any of the 4 people in the party. I understand more places are resorting to this forced tipping amount - but it really makes me question if we will return to this establishment. read more

The service was great, every employee was super friendly, and we weren't waiting long between orders. The taquito appetizers were tasty and well seasoned, we ate the full plate of them and enjoyed every bite. We ordered a taco salad to go and they packed it up for us with such meticulous care. The taco shell was individually wrapped in plastic, every ingredient was in a separate container, and the lettuce and cheese was in a takeout box. We heated up the sofritas and made the salad bowl up and it was really delicious The only reason El Guapo doesn't get 5 stars is the Piña Colada Tacos. They have a menu of about 12 different types of tacos that all looked good, but I love coconut shrimp, so the Piña Colada tacos were perfect. We were so underwhelmed and disappointed after the first bite. The shrimp were barely seasoned and tasted like they came straight from a frozen box of shrimp that were fried. They barely had any coconut flavor and the pineapple slices and sauce were also underwhelming. We'll be back to try another type of taco and update our review! read more

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The service was extremely slow... it wasn't crowed but I presume they may have been short staffed. We ordered the bottomless brunch and bottomless drinks... as well as an order of dusty wings. Within the 2 hour frame we were only served 2 drinks... bottomless means keep them coming; but apparently they have a different idea of the frequency of bottomless. The bartender seemed frazzled and irritable. The food was ok, the guacamole was old and dried out. The churros were delicious as well as the shrimp and grits. My drink came in a water glass; which I don't mind I suppose but the drink itself was wayyyy too sweet... I ordered sangria & it tasted as if I received a cup of simple syrup instead. I would not recommend this place. The locals keep them in business I'm guessing. Lastly, our server was kind; she was clearly overwhelmed but she did her best to accommodate everyone. read more

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I came here for a continuing date night it was Margarita Monday!!! I was tempted but I just wanted to check the place out. My bf spoke about the basement I'm like naaa I don't go in nobody's basement unless it's in my house!!. Some time later I end up in the basement!!!, it's very colorful and nostalgic & they have all the gaming systems I used to play when I was a kid!! & true Gamer. Mind you I'm severely vision impaired and I beat my bf on the Ninja turtles game!! Played the simpsons and some others. They have a cool chill vibes bar!! and several other games, I'd totally return here by myself date night but actually eat here before state fare!. The service was great there was always someone around to help . read more

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Grabbed nachos and a can of margarita for carry-out with my husband. We wanted something new and not a hassle to get. It was really easy to place an order at the bar! This place was clean and pretty empty for a Sunday afternoon which it makes it easier to grab takeout. The nachos were severed with the cold ingredients in the side (sour cream, tomatoes, guacamole, jalenpeno and salsa). This was really smart and like our very own nacho bar at home! The duck and chorizo were also very good, great meat options. The margarita was refreshing and had a nice kick to it. Make sure you shake it well! We can't wait to try more! One suggestion maybe have the cheese and meat on the side or even more nacho building - that queso is fire! read more

El Guapo - Mexican Near Me - Catonsville, Maryland

El Guapo is finally open! Got some takeout to try a variety of the offerings. El Guapo style themselves as authentic but accessible Mexican cuisine, so I was definitely excited. I thoroughly enjoyed the Pozole soup. Hearty with a rich broth and plenty of hominy and chicken. I'd get that again. The taquitos are a solid app (or children's meal) with a tasty fried shell and chicken filling. The guac was pleasantly light on salt but it allowed other flavors to shine through. The duck carnitas tacos were good, but it lacked any discernible duck flavor that I daresay I might be better off with the pork carnitas next time. The salsa amarilla that accompanied it had a nice flavor and kick. The tortillas were a tad brittle, so the tacos fell apart halfway through (I'm used to double corn tortillas and/or fattier, more pliable tortillas). The side of black beans and rice were very well seasoned. The pupusas were okay, but a little dry; I've definitely had better for cheaper, even in the area. Stick to Mexican, El Guapo. Holy agave spirits, Batman! On top of a few beers on tap and some Mexican staples in cans and bottles, El Guapo has an exhaustive list of tequilas and mezcal, ranging from the simple to top shelf, including blancos and even extra añejos. You can get these neat, on the rocks, or in their selection of cocktails. My wife and I got two cocktails - the Mezcal Old Fashioned and the Tamarind Burro. If you like the smoky nature of mezcal, you'll probably like the Old Fashioned; my wife sure did! The Tamarind Burro is a fun mule drink with tamarindo soda instead of ginger ale and tequila instead of vodka and I am here for it. It is dangerous how good this is. The place was packed when I arrived to pickup. They will bring your order out curbside if you call, or you can go inside to the bar to pick up there. The inside is spacious and decked out with Día de los Muertos skeletons and other Mexican-inspired art. The front of the store opens up to the sidewalk, and they had it open to keep the air flowing (gotta keep this in mind in times of COVID). The prices are okay. I wouldn't say it's a prohibitively expensive joint, but it definitely ain't cheap, at least for the portion sizes. For just opening El Guapo shows great promise and we will probably come back again. The bartender said they do offer desserts (though as of this review it's not listed online) including flan, cuatro leches, and churros and are looking to expand those offerings. Come stop by for the newest Mexican place on Frederick Avenue! (Three and a half stars) read more

Very nice restaurant. Bartenders and Wait staff were very attentive. I only had drinks so I cannot comment on the food. Drinks were ok. Mostly juice or sour mix. Bartenders have to taste what they make. I am sure if my drinks tasted, they would have been adjusted. Overall, the place vibrant enough for me to want to go back and try again. read more

El Guapo - Mexican Near Me - Catonsville, Maryland

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worst pretend mexican food i have seen ever. and the add a 20%grat. that the recipe said was for a 5(or more table). sad

First time coming and boy did I enjoy myself! We arrived about noon. The inside is beautiful, multicolored flags draped from the ceiling. Huge bar and the music was on point! It was pretty empty but it picked up quickly after. We seated ourselves and was greeted by Pam, the best waiter ever! She was energetic and we immediately spark a convo, outside of anything restaurant related. We order margaritas, the fabulous bartender let us try a flavor we'd never heard of, can't remember the name but it taste and looked like applesauce. It was delicious. We ended up ordering 2m margaritas mango and passion fruit. Both were tasty and nice and strong! We tried so many items on the menu. The classic nachos loaded with crab and shrewd beef. The birria tacos, the sampler which had dusty wings, quesadillas, Mexican corn and these little bit size burritos (I know that's not the name but I can't remember) also had salsa and chips complimentary and added a side of queso. We laughed and tripped with Pam, while we waited on our food. Everything looked delicious but ordering with our eyes we only could eat the nachos 10-10 shoulda left the crab off, it wasnt cooked or seasoned so it was just like fresh crabmeat. The birria tacos 10-10 the queso 10-10 and the looks of everything else 10-10. She surprised us each with a slice of cake which was a nice added touch since we weren't there to celebrate our bdays but it was our bday month . *FYI on your bday they put you in the "shot chair" and pour a shot from the bottle down your throat, pretty cool! 5 stars all across the board. If your ever in Catonsville, stop pass and ask for Pam! read more

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I discovered El Guapo's bottomless brunch, via Instagram, drooling over the photos, & had to try them out asap. (not many places brought back their quality bottomless experiences post-COVID) Arriving for Sunday brunch, the street parking & spacious inside seating area created an easy, welcoming arrival. The complimentary chips & salsa brought to the table were delicious-increasing our excited anticipation level for the dishes about to come! While waiting for the food orders, I tried the white sangria, my husband the Mexican mimosa, and my friend the classic mimosa- the drinks were strong! They don't hold back on flavors & booze. The tapas, though small plates-packed hearty big flavors! Everything had a bold profile unique to the dish- Some of the favorites: I loved (multiple orders) huevos tostada-smothered with beans and crispy chorizo, with a crème flavor pop shrimp & grits were creamy, with subtle spice, charred thick juicy shrimps, and a buttery melt plantanos were a bit different each dish we ordered-one was smothered in a chili cream sauce, one in a crème, one in dry chili cinnamon rub not sure why the recipes seemed to change with each order but I enjoyed each variety corn muffins were dense and fluffy at the same time, very well-seasoned Everything was made to order, service was quick, everything was fresh & yummy. I do wish they had the ability to add meat to some of the options (like the nachos or quesadilla)- overall it was a very heavy but satisfyingly worth it brunch- it was all we ate that day in a good way! Would definitely recommend trying out- read more

Ordered chilaquiles for take out. I have had chilaquiles in authentic Mexican restaurants in the US, in Mexico, and I have made them myself. Chilaquiles are not nachos. What I got was a container of tortilla chips, a container of salsa verde, and a container of pulled chicken. So, I got deconstructed nachos. To get something resembling chilaquiles I had to go and smother the chips (which should be day-old for chilaquiles, but weren't) and sautee, assembling the entire dish. This is not acceptable. I have no idea how these are served in-house. I will give the benefit of the doubt that they actually cook and assemble them. So, if you can't make them in a way appropriate for take-out, don't offer them on the take-out menu. Simple as that. read more

I was craving Mexican food but did not want to leave the hotel. I got a chicken Chimichanga with rice and beans. The meal also came with chips, guacamole, pico de gallo sauce and salsa. I was extremely hungry and it was enough to fill me up. Food was also delivered still hot. Next time I am craving Mexican food, I will choose them again. read more

El Guapo - Mexican Near Me - Catonsville, Maryland

Made the mistake of trying this place again. I knew the food was bad going in, so I thought I'd just get a couple beers. I sat at the bar (there were maybe 3 other people there) and waited 25 minutes for the "bartenders" to stop talking and playing on their phones. Keep in mind they auto gratuity 20%, so they can ignore you as long as want and still get their money. Reviewer Katie C below is 100% correct. This restaurant group ruined Main Street Catonsville. State fare, El Guapo, the Beaumont. I just don't understand why people keep giving them money. The bar is incredibly low here I guess read more

I have been here several times over the years since they been open but The Service This evening was Terrible. It may have been 8 people total in the entire establishment but the waiter was just awful, rude, nasty, and just plain didnt want to wait on us. Food Came out in 10 minutes but was lukewarm so I asked her to warm it up, she had an attitude, ask for a drink.. she had an attitude Then had the nerve to put 20% gratuity on my check due to a discounted item.I Told her take it off because she certainly does not deserve a tip after the awful service she provided. I ALWAYS tip even if the service is not good due to situations out of the waiters control but I refused this time and I will never bring business there again and i will continue to spread the word of the horrible service. read more

This is one of the go to places when you're unsure of exactly what you're in the mood for. Great service nice food and drinks. Nice happy hour feel to the place. read more

Is not a fit for black people. They don't like u to play rap music STRAight techno..... VIBE KILLER . I would like to see more integrated places to enjoy good food and good drinks. Service was Ard but the techno put me in kill mode! read more