This rooftop is so cute! Had a group of 12 at 10pm on a Saturday night and only waited 5mins at the door. The rooftop does NOT have great circulation. My friends and I were standing in front of the fans the whole time. It was high 90s that day though, so it's hard to be prepared for that. The margarita pitchers were really good. We did not have a reservation and hung out in front of the bar. We tried to sit down a couple of times only to be told if we weren't ordering food we can't sit at the tables. They had a DJ but the DJ just played instrumental beats the whole time. It would've completely flipped the mood had they been playing top songs / normal music. So as a result we only stayed until midnight and all of us got tired and went home! I think had the music been better, we would've been there all night dancing and having a blast. read more

Came here on a Saturday afternoon - ordered tacos from Rita loco and requested to have it delivered upstairs to El Techo so we could order drinks with our meal. I ended ordering the 3 tacos for $11. 2 carne asada and one angus beef all on corn tortilla. Coming from Arizona, I had pretty high expectations of how the carne asada especially was going to taste. By surprise, I was pretty impressed with the flavor. The meat was pretty flavorful and tender, and with the salsa verde (medium) it was delicious. The angus beef had a slight spice to it but wasn't overpowering with spice, so it was tolerable. I ordered the garden margarita and was such a refreshing drink, if you're one for the earthy, tart taste. Overall, the vibe was really nice given that it wasn't crowded. I think there is a do that may come later on in the day but I could see this place as a spot to day drink read more

El Techo - Tapas Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Love the vibes here!!! Super Miami feel, very tropical with just the perfect lighting. The music is great too, felt like I was on vacation!! Drinks wise I definitely recommend the pitcher if you're going with a group - more bang for your buck. They say it's 4-5 drinks but it ended up being more!! we tried the spicy mezcal marg and the mango marg. Loved the spicy marg and they had the tajin rim which I love! read more

This is a hidden gem! Seriously this place didn't even have a Yelp page set up yet. My friend and I were walking by and saw this cute rooftop bar! There were so many things to love! First of all the rooftop bar was gorgeous. I loved how the bar was filled with flowers! Also, there was music and the drinks were great! I got the planter's punch and my friend got the spicy margarita. The punch was really unique. I loved the foam on top because it made the drink creamy. The spicy margarita was super spicy, so my friend ended up taking out the pepper garnish in the drink. The service was good and the bar tenders were attentive to our needs. I will definitely be going back! It is the perfect place to go if you are bar hopping or if you want to pregame before going out! read more

Hard to find if you aren't looking for the sign and stairs. Since it's winter time, there was a temporary roof overhead and heat lamps spread throughout. The inside was decorated very nicely with awesome flowers draped down the ceiling. I ordered two tacos, the fried avocado and tinga chicken. Avocado stood out and tasted totally different than anything I had before. The crispy breadcrumbs combined with the smoothness of the avocado really made it. Tinga chicken was spicy but not really my cup of tea. I feel like it could've been slightly cheaper. My friends got the AM Rito (breakfast burrito) and they said it was really, really good (they enjoyed it more than their tacos). I hope to come back to try the burrito. read more

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The decor was beautiful and great for a happy hour! The service was also great! We had the waiter check in on us multiple times throughout the night. The bowl was so flavorful with just the right amount of spice! read more

El Techo - Fried avocado bowl - Tapas Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

El Techo hosted a semi-private event for our student organization that went fantastic from planning to the end of the event! We were provided with phenomenal assistance answering questions, working with our school, and great service during the event. They have a fantastic team, and we immediately felt welcomed, comfortable, and excited to celebrate there. We're so impressed with the beauty of the venue, the excellent food, and the extraordinary service! The two waiters working with us the entire night went above and beyond for us- Thank you!! Everything was perfect and the staff took care of our individual needs and got everybody what they needed quickly and efficiently despite the number of people. Thanks to El Techo staff's coordination, kindness, and logistical support, the event was beyond successful, and we are so grateful! I would definitely recommend this venue to anyone planning an event! read more

Great food, drinks, and nice vibe. Got the brisket quesadilla and 3 margaritas. Great! read more

We arrived for our reservation promptly at 5:15 pm, and although the restaurant was extremely busy, we were seated at a table within less than 2 minutes. Service was phenomenal and our food was pretty good but a bit on the luke warm side. The ambience of this restaurant is beautiful - tropical and exotic. You forget that you're literally in one of the busiest parts of D.C. The vibe is youthful - a mixed crowd, energetic music and margaritas. Definitely a cool spot for an afternoon gathering with friends. read more

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First time coming here. The vibe was immaculate. I loved that it brought back some nostalgia of what DC once was pre covid. Their tacos were traditional and delicious and they have a good selection of drinks. Ended up spending $480 for 6 is us which averaged around $95 per person. Pretty good since we had 4 rounds of shots and a lot of alcohol. This is a nice chill place to go with a decent size group. We had a lot of fun! read more

El Techo is a rooftop VIBE! Came here for my bday in August and emailed for a reservation of 18. I had quite a few cancellations and party size changes, to which the staff was very accommodating and quick to respond. We were not able to get seated at the time of our reservation, but they definitely made that up by not rushing us over the 2 hr time limit. It does get very hot here during the summer time as it's outside with no AC. Birria tacos were fantastic and the service was outstanding. Bottomless mimosas plus one entree is def worth the price read more

When I went here yesterday I saw on the menu that they had bottomless margaritas and food. When the bartender came to start servicing us she did not wipe the area where we sat at after the people left. She was taking shots with the customers and barely paying attention to me or my husband. We had to keep getting her attention because she was to busy partying versus working. We ordered the birria tacos. They were disgusting. And for us to have gotten "bottomless" anything, it definitely wasn't bottomless. She kept asking if we wanted another drink after we would finish with one but if their bottomless you should already have my next drink coming once you see me finished with the first one. Overall trash experience and will not be returning to waste my money. & then at the end when I was paying the tab, our bill had an extra $37 added to our bill. I had to get another person to fix it it was 125$ at first and then got fixed too 88$. On the receipt it looked like she charged us for 4 regular margaritas at full price and charged us for the bottomless tacos when that's not what we wanted or ordered. The environment was very cool, but the seating was horrible. Didn't even try to give us a table. Only seats open were at the bar and one table immediately upon the entrance. Yeah no. Never again. read more

Came for the happy hour because someone told me the margaritas and birria tacos were pretty legit. Quite the contrary. The birria tacos lacked soul. There was very little cheese, the meat was dry (even when dipped in the consome) and unseasoned, and the taco was nearly burnt. (They look nothing like the ones pictured at the top of the yelp site) Chewing the taco felt like an endless task. The margaritas were ok at best. The stand out experience was the dip trifecta. The queso, salsa, and guacamole were actually pretty solid and the chips were perfect. But this is actually not out of alignment with the restaurant's mission. According to their website the owner claims "that no one will out-vibe us". I'm sure that may be in some ways true when the weather warms up and people are filling the space again. Left to be seen. read more

The waiter was very attentive and personable. We Definitely stayed longer because of the service. The owner was also working on a Saturday making sure his customers were having a good time. The roof top is just beautiful! I plan on going back when it's warm to get the outdoor experience. read more

This spot is the definition of a hidden gem! Secret clubhouse type of rooftop dining with a beautiful interior and wonderful view of Shaw D.C. Drinks were spectacular and food tasted just as good as it looked! Staff were also friendly and efficient maintaining limited capacity and enforcing social distancing! read more

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Went for dinner last night & the fajitas were marvelous! Service was great. Everyone was very attentive. Beautiful Ibiza inspired theme! read more

El Techo - Fajitas - Tapas Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I was looking forward to trying this restaurant and even brought a friend for her birthday as the pics of the ambience look cute. NOT what I expected at all and disappointed tbh. *Ambience cute - prob looks better at night *Margaritas were our #1 reason to come and so disappointing. Either too sweet or too tart. *Ordered the 3 tacos and a drink for $29 and bill was all wrong. *Charged $1 for a cup of ice and sparkling water, as well as $1 for a bottle of water, but weren't told that ahead of time. Not a big deal but would have been nice to know we were being charged for water, especially an off-brand bottle which I didn't drink. *Tacos: veggie and the chicken were good; pork was spicy. Good but not good enough to come back for ‍ *chips/guacamole were ok. Actually the chips were pretty good solo and that's usually the hard part. *Runner who was serving food and bringing upstairs didn't have his mask covering his nose. *used plastic menu; no hand sanitizer available read more

Was so excited to try after seeing RHOP film there. The ambiance and vibe was immaculate. The food was mediocre, and all of the bottomless drinks we tried tasted beyond syrupy. Was $45 for bottomless and one entree which in DC standards was worth it. Not the best food you're going to have.. bathrooms are also extremely awkward and so tiny. read more

El Techo - Tapas Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Great Atmosphere, Excellent Menu, Highly Reccomended My teenage daughter and I met a friend at El Techo last night and it was a very pleasant experience. We were greeted and seated promptly at our reservation time. The decor was simple but unique and pretty cool looking. The noise levels were low to moderate so conversation wasn't difficult, which is my biggest pet peeve when dining. The wait staff was quick to greet us at the table and helped us with any questions we had about different dishes. At our friend's recommendation, we ordered one of each of their fresh juices followed by their cleanse juice. These beverages were unique in their blends of (not all in one) beets, tangerine, lemon, ginger, apple juice, pear juice and several others that I'm not recalling at this time. When the server brought the juices, they also brought our order of chips/salsa/queso/guacamole. The guacamole was fresh made in house and spiced appropriately while the queso and salsa were far above average. After talking to the server for a while and asking more questions than most would tolerate, we ended up ordering 2 of the 3-taco trays. The juices kind of unexpectedly filled us up so we were light on the meal. The tacos we ordered were Carne Asada, Fried Avocado and Shrimp. They came served on corn tortillas, which weren't too hard or soft, topped with lettuce, tomato (might have been pico) and onions and then of course whatever the main topping was. They were the perfect temperature and definitely fit in my top 5 best tacos I've had, which might sound sub par, but I've had hundreds at restaurants all over the country. Since we filled up on juices and tacos, there was no room for dessert but that's okay. It gives me something to look forward to the next time around. Overall, I give this place a 9/10................ because there's no such thing as perfect. read more

The food is Amazing! Drinks aren't strong but yummy. Vibe was on point! Very hidden so look for the stair case to get in. Reservations are recommended if coming on a weekend! I came on a Thursday and it was busy! Service was also very attentive! Kinda cold I'm the winter so dress warm! Would definitely come again in the summer! read more

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i went on sunday night and they have all day brunch which was cool! they have a bottomless brunch deal which is a brunch entree and bottomless drinks (which can be beer, margs, mimosas, etc. which was very nice considering most places you can only have one kind of drink) for $45! the tacos were great, i liked the carnitas the best. the shrimp one was kind of lacking but overall was still good. i mostly drank strawberry margs which i loved! not too sweet and not too strong of an alcohol flavor. i also for sure recommend their frozen margs! the mango was the best. we had to sit at the bar since the tables were all full which was totally fine! our bartender was really friendly and honestly we got drinks faster that way. the vibe of the place is great! i LOVE the decor; there's plants and flowers hanging from the ceiling and the music was upbeat techno. the space is really beautiful. it is all outdoors, though. it was a great vibe but VERY hot since there's no AC and honestly few fans. i didn't mind too much though, like it was fine but some might think it's a little hot and sticky. i recommend though for a more upbeat dinner or brunch spot! great vibes and good food! read more

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Such a beautiful restaurant! Great happy hour prices :) it's upstairs, and we noticed they bring the food from the restaurant downstairs? The food was a bit cold because of that I think? It's still was very nice staff but food was veer subpar ! I'd visit because it's cool but probably won't come back :p read more

El Techo - Ambiance first setting down :) - Tapas Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Umm...yeah. This place is not it. It's beautiful inside and the vibe is decent if you're going there for drinks but this is also a restaurant. My friends and I ordered tacos (all different kinds) and every single taco was bland in taste. We also ordered a Margarita pitcher, passion fruit flavored. That tasted delicious but didn't really get any kind of buzz, and we only shared it between two people. For our appetizer we ordered the trifecta which is nachos with queso, guac, and another spicy dipping sauce. The queso was watery but the other two dips were delightful. If I went back I definitely would not go for food but I would go for the drinks. Our waitresses were lovely but we went to this place starving and left...starving. read more

The inside of this place is so beautiful. The vibe is like no other. The food is delicious. I ordered a mahi mahi tacos and it was perfect. The staffs and fast and most importantly nice. Make sure to call ahead for maybe a table or figure out their reservation policy. When we went they didn't have any available seats but we're able to sit us down for 30 minutes. read more

*** Delayed review *** We were excited about this place because the location looked fun from the outside. Walking upstairs to the location didn't bother me but once we got up there, we realized the tables are SO close together. I couldn't help but feel like I sitting in on the intimate talk next to me between a couple because I was so close. And that's saying something since the music was up like it was a night club. The vibe was cool but the limited elbow room, not so much. We had 3 people and they definitely threw a chair on a 2 top table and called it a day. I know they were busy but poor service always stands out. We asked to move to a vacant table close that had a little extra room (a 4 top table for 3 people) they said no, lol. Our server was less than enthused through the entire experience. I wasn't surprised by this considering most people we interacted with in DC just were not friendly or welcoming. Also, our server put her butt in my face multiple times when talking to the couple next to me that I was basically sitting with. Like inches girl, like the teacher would when you were in junior high. The food was overpriced and served in containers you would get at a high school concession stand. I wanted it to be better but eh. Location was cool but I definitely wouldn't recommend or return. P&P visited this location 05/04/2021 read more

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I so wanted to give a raving review about my experience here but it was truly not one of the best ones. Make sure you bring a credit card because this place doesn't take cash payments and keep in mind that it's one credit card per table. This is something that should be stated somewhere when making the reservation. The location is nice. Very pretty decor, but depending on where you're seated, you may not get the full experience of it. The server was very friendly but like a few other people stated, you are continuously reminded of how much time is left to your reservation. You are given 1 hr and 30 minutes which starts ticking from the reservation time. So if you're late trying to find a parking spot, keep that in mind. The tacos and the yuca fries were just ok and they have zero proof cocktail options which just translates to non-alcohol beverages. Being constantly told about the time left took away from the experience and made for a not so enjoyable, rushed time. A text reminder to the person that made the reservation would of made more sense instead of having someone come over to the table to let you know you have a certain amount of time left or that they need the table which is something I noticed with another table. read more

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My friend and I stopped by El Techo on a super hot Sunday afternoon while exploring Shaw. El Techo is Rito Loco's rooftop bar overlooking Florida avenue, especially if you're lucky enough to grab one of the few seats by the edge to see the beautiful houses along the street. The decor is super cute and that's about where the positives stop for this place. Let's start with the fact that if one opens a rooftop bar during DC summer, better have a lot more fans. My friend and I were miserable as it was hot, but so were their employees. And getting a drink from a sweaty bartender wasn't too pleasant for me. Now, let's talk about those drinks. WEAK comes to mind first. I ordered a passion fruit margarita, while my friend got the mango mojito. Both drinks tasted like a terrible juice - no liquor and just lots of juice mix, and barely even cold. We're in 90 degrees weather on a rooftop and we paid $30 for warm weird-tasting juice! Also their bathrooms are ridiculously small. I feel bad for a tall person having to use the ladies room as there was no room to properly squat. While the decor was on point, that is surely not worth me going back. read more

El Techo - Left to right: passionfruit margarita and mango Mojito - Tapas Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I had trouble placing an online order, so I called the store. I got the manager who comped my entire meal and upgraded the size of my side of guac. It was unnecessary, yet incredibly kind and greatly appreciated. read more

Great brunch spot with a cool layout, good vibes, and nice music. My friends and I didn't have super high expectations but I'll say this place is worth it! We had a reservation for brunch on a Saturday afternoon and loved how alive the location was. We didn't wait too long for our table and once we got seated, we ordered drinks and our food. Their margaritas are pretty decent, but the food is the star here. I ordered a beef burrito and really enjoyed it! It came with rice and beans, which were very tasty. The burrito was toasted on the outside and had pico de gallo, lots of meat, and cheese. I thoroughly enjoyed my entree and my friends enjoyed theirs too! Next time I wanna dress cute for brunch in the District, I'll come by here again. read more

El Techo - El Techo Margarita - Tapas Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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One of the weirder bars I've been to in DC- but drinks and decor were great. It's probably one of the cutest bars in DC and great for photos. Came for a drink or two with my boyfriend around 5 and then met with some friends before heading out to another bar. We sat at the bar for a while- the place wasn't packed and the staff were awkwardly milling about but I ordered a frozen Marg (very good) and a Frose'. Both came out quickly and were interesting flavors. Then, we sat down at a table where 3 different servers were constantly hounding our table about ordering more drinks. Our friends who had just arrived ordered Queso to enjoy while we finished our drinks. The waitresses were pushy with them about ordering drinks but they were only staying for a few minutes so they kept saying they were fine with the food. Queso was orange ( I prefer a queso blanco) and not the best tasting but the consistency of it was nice. Overall, the looks and drinks were great but the "vibes" not quite there. read more

2 stars, but only this high because of decor Pros: - Nice rooftop decor, though can be hot Cons: - Overall an unwelcoming experience from end to end. Regularly warned about being charged $40 for missing a group reservation. Fine: things are busy, but you are a taco place and on all the popular lists. This isn't going to be an issue for you. - On arrival immediately reminded of 90min hard table limit, and 1-card payment limit. Card was also required before any food was even ordered. The above vibe just felt very aggressive and made my whole group feel like WTF. This isn't a michelin starred restaurant or elite club. - Food arrived cold. District Taco and Taco Bamba are better. - Cocktails were insanely sugary, like drinking syrup - Tip was auto-grat'ed at 20%. From what you can tell from above, 20% was not warranted. read more

Such a great fun spot. Very beautiful decor, great vibes. The carne asada taco was sooo good and different from usual tacos, very soft delicious tortilla. Would definitely come back read more

El Techo - Tapas Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This spot has been on my to go list for a while . Moving from Texas to the dmv area it's always hard to find a Mexican restaurant that is very authentic but from the reviews and hype of this place I really thought it will meet the expectations but it failed ... terribly. Don't mind paying for drinks no matter the price but these drinks are absolutely horrible, straight up lemon juice on the rocks. The appetizers was alright . The chips and dips were really good and taquitos were alright . They have Birria tacos on their menu now and that was really good . Don't get me wrong it is aesthetically pleasing but I wouldn't even go for a cocktail night cause drinks are horrible and our server was extremely rude too. If you're looking for a great Mexican vibe in the dmv area Mi Vida is always a good time and have great food and drinks. read more

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A fun rooftop patio for drinks or a quick dinner -- but probably not a great place to hold court for hours on end. Staff at the front door were friendly and we were able to be seated quickly even though we arrived a bit before a 6p reservation on Friday evening. (Reservations are definitely a good idea if weather is nice!) We were served drinks quickly -- I really enjoyed the mango mojito -- and there were happy hour specials until 7pm. Service in general was kind of odd: we were asked about what we wanted to drink and the server turned to leave, so we had to ask "Can we also order food?" -- which seemed weird since we had food menus we were holding in our hands as if to order. Tables are REALLY close together, so don't expect an intimate conversation here without some eavesdropping! Kudos to the runners who were bringing food and drinks out weaving through them with ease. We liked the crispy chips and guacamole, and tacos were generally good-not-great. Some of the meats were juicy and flavorful, and others were just eh. They do handmade corn tortillas as one option, which is probably the way to go. It felt at times like they were kind of rushing us, with lots of staff circulating to see if we were done yet after only having been there for an hour -- but maybe that's just efficiency and attentiveness. read more

If you're seeking IG-friendly joints, this may be your spot. Located on the rooftop of burrito joint Rito Loco in cozy but trendy Shaw, El Techo definitely seemed very picturesque from the photos I had seen. We went for dinner on a Saturday night and it was PACKED. When we got there (around 8PM or so) there was a massive line outside the door waiting to get in. It seemed like everyone was expecting to walk into the restaurant (as there is no reservation system listed on the Rito Loco/El Techo website). However, there is a reservation link accessible from El Techo's Instagram page which seemed to be pretty open. Presumably enough people do not know about it considering how many people were waiting outside. We walked up straight to the bouncer (much to the dismay of those queued up) and were let in and seated immediately, which was nice. The moment we walked in, we knew all the stories of El Techo's photogenic decor were true. There were all the plants hanging from the ceiling and tiki torches and even a photobooth for the truly audacious. Putting the decor aside however, the experience of both the drinks and the food felt very middle of the road. I got a mango mojito which tasted more like mango juice without liquor and a steak burrito which was pretty average - it tasted decent enough but a bunch of the burrito filling spilled out as I was eating it. Oh also - it was expectedly very crowded and very loud and the table next to us was so close that our chairs kept bumping against each other. Overall, I think El Techo is great to visit if you are looking for good pictures and an energetic vibe. As far as food goes, you'll probably be just content with what you get. read more

El Techo - Atmosphere - Tapas Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This place is a hidden gem in DC. The food is exceptional but if you stay for a drink you may find yourself dancing the night away with new friends with amazing vibes. Definitely would recommend going if you haven't already fell in love with the awesome spot! read more

First time coming was today and I didn't really know what to expect. Unfortunately (or fortunately) I read Yelp reviews before heading out- and I'll leave it at that. Where do I begin...so the decor is obviously what attracts you in the first place. It's like a really beautiful person on the outside but then you get to know them and you're like...oh. First, party of 4 adults. We get sat a table big enough for two people. Since we intended to get both drinks and food, we moved to the bar because it accommodated 4 adults. Shortly after, two people were sat at the two top. Drinks. I ordered a spicy el techo. My partner ordered a passion fruit margarita, and the other two people in my party had regular el techo margaritas. They all pretty much tasted the same. Food. Oh my. Chips and salsa/guacamole/and queso- pretty good. One of my friends ordered brisket tacos and said they were pretty good. A different friend ordered the birria tacos and liked them. I got the tostada, veggie style- salt and citrus would have made it have taste. There was no cheese on it. I don't know, I just..have had better. My partner got shrimp tacos and said the same- it was bland. We also got empanadas. All I can say is I don't know what meat was in them. I took a small bite and was utterly confused because of the texture and lack of flavor. It was weird. Maybe the food is one of those things where they have staples and consistently good dishes. Service. I think our experience wasn't too bad. Sitting at the bar made things easier because we had space and the bartender was attentive. I'd come back for drinks before dinner reservations. Or if I was already in the city and was hopping around. But for brunch or any other meal, pass. I gave 3 out of 5 stars because the service was decent, chips were good, and the decor, of course. read more

Made a reservation, for five, showed up five mins early. Haven't been here less then ten mins and they have already said countless times that we need to get out exactly in 1.5. No hello, no greeting, and they even came over with a paper set it on the table before food drinks or anything and AGAIN repeated we have to be out and gone in an hour and a half...rude, and a bit disrespectful. read more

El Techo - Also all of our glasses were chipped. - Tapas Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I am so disappointed in how bad the food was here. I've been wanting to try this place for awhile! The decor of this place was so pretty and the bar atmosphere was great however, this is a place that I would only come to get drinks. For appetizers we had mac&cheese balls and the crab balls and both did not have a quality taste nor did the birria tacos, lacked so much flavor. It reminded me almost of concession stand food from the taste to the presentation. Our margaritas were good along w/ my one shrimp taco but it also isn't something that I will come running back for. It's a surprise how mediocre the food was compared to how exclusive they made this restaurant seem with reservations and all. read more

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This place is so overly hyped. The aesthetics were nice but that is about it. The tables were uncomfortably small. They sit my party of 4 at a table about 2 feet x 2 feet. The mac and cheese balls were underwhelming in flavor. The crab balls were the best things I ordered. The tacos were also subpar, the chicken one had the most flavor but everything else was pretty bland. My friend's liked their birria tacos but agreed that everything else was mediocre. read more