Klejvis is the man! The food at brunch was amazing and the service was top notch. Will be back! Ambiance was on point as well.

I recently went here for a friend's birthday. I will say the food was pretty good. The scallops were delicious, but the steak yeah I highly recommend. Overall pricing was average for a restaurant like this. The service was pretty good, Katie was very helpful and great at managing all of our orders well since it was about 10 of us. The ambiance was cool, perfect for photos. However, there was a birthday downstairs I guess, while we were still eating which I thought was a bit awkward as that party blocked majority of the entrance and really didn't want to move. Overall, I would definitely return mainly for the food. read more

My boyfriend made a reservation for my birthday and the experience was pretty disappointing. They gave us a table that smelled really bad, and when we asked to move, they said the other area was already closed even though it was only 9pm. We decided to just stay for drinks to give the place a chance, but the drinks were just okay and they even brought old limes with the water. We ended up leaving and finding another place to celebrate. read more

Essex - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

This place is still amazing the second time I went, great music, great vibe, no complaints about this spot. The food is good and the drinks are good. Definitely will be back again. read more

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Let me start by saying ive come here for dinner and it was a much better experience than brunch. As soon as we sat down the waitress told us we had a time limit. Ive NEVER experienced that at a restaurant before so much so that she rushed us throughout the entire meal. It wasn't even busy ! So Im turned off and probably wouldn't go back. Aside from all of this the steak was so bland and not worth the price. The eggs were good. Still didnt make up for the service received read more

Essex - Steak and eggs - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

My colleagues and I were looking for a place to eat after a work team-building event at The Ragery. Since this was super close, the menu looked good, and they were able to accommodate a party of our size, we booked it. I always confuse Essex with Beauty and Essex - and honestly I'm not sure what the difference is between the two (seriously though I know they are different places). Anyway, I quickly learned that Essex is (or at least was) a brunch hot spot in the LES. The space is huge - it has a grand presence with high ceilings, an impressive bar, and tables scattered throughout a mostly open floor plan. The decor was modern - there wasn't anything too outstanding about it but it was pleasing to the eyes nonetheless. The menu is mostly American food and consists of several small plates with a few larger format dishes. They also have a significant amount of drinks available which fits the boozy brunch aesthetic they're known for. Since it was restaurant week (apparently?), they had a 3-course prix fix option, but we decided not to partake. Ultimately, we got several small plates - fried calamari, burrata flatbread, mac and cheese, lamb meatballs, truffle fries, and Brussels sprouts. Additionally, we got a few orders of their signature burger. In general, none of the food impressed me - most of it was marginal at best with some of it being less than that. The best things IMO were the burger, truffle fries, and the mac. The fried calamari was over-fried, though I appreciate they included legs. The flatbread was burnt on the bottom which took away from the flavor. Boring food that you could get better elsewhere. Drinks were pretty good, but I only got a mule so I cannot accurately judge. Service was friendly, though the flow of the food wasn't the best as there was a large gap between being served small plates and the burgers. Also, several of us ordered drinks and they were served pretty much one at a time. I don't blame the servers though, they were working hard. They may need more people or a revamp of their workflow. Overall, Essex was just okay, and not a place I would necessarily return. While the service was good and the aesthetics were pretty, the food was underwhelming. I would opt for other restaurants in the LES next time I'm here. read more

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(Last visited September 4, 2023.) Hanging out in New York City for Labor Day weekend and it's time to brunch! So today we're on the lower east side and checking out Essex! Here's how it went... Atmosphere/Appearance: This place is pretty big for a New York restaurant! It's elongated like most of them but it also has an upstairs! It's very elegant, chic and felt like, historic... maybe? Like, set back in the day a little bit. It was on the quieter side, but still felt energetic as we sat right at the bar near the door since it was so busy. Service: We sat at the bar and we were well taken care of. I can't remember who took care of us, but they had our mimosas FULL-FULL. Like, with a meniscus on top. Lol. Serious stuff. Food: I went with the Angus strip and salad which was decent. It could've used some more seasoning or salt, but the steak was cooked well and the salad felt healthy. It was filling, but didn't make me regret eating it. Lol. Most importantly, the mimosas just flowed and flowed. Bottomless was done to perfection here, that's why it's important to sit right at the bar! At the source! Lol. Value: It's New York City and it's a nice restaurant. It's not going to be cheap. I think my wife and I spent just over $100.00 with tax and tip for each of us to have bottomless mimosas then our entrees. Totally worth it. In conclusion, I liked it here and would totally come back! Check this place out if you're in the area. read more

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We came at the end of dinner service around 9pm reservation on a Friday. It converts to a dance party vibe on Friday and Saturday nights! Very fun atmosphere. We heard this was supposed to be great Mediterranean food. It was good but not great. For the amount they charge - I should have zero bones in my branzino. The mezze was delish - probably our fav part. The delicata squash salad......had very little delicata squash. Grilled octopus was kind of underwhelming - we have definitely had better. The chicken skewers were amazing tho and we doubled up on veggies instead of getting rice. Overall, decent if you are in the area, but would not seek this spot out again. read more

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GIRL THIS PLACE IS GOOD. I went to bottomless brunch with a group of girls. When I tell you this place is bottomless this place is BOTTOMLESS. The servers are legit ninjas i didn't realize when my glass was empty or when the plates were taken away omg. I had bottomless aperol spritz - delicious. It's nice because it's not as sweet as the mimosa which is beneficial for that hangover. The salmon eggs benedict. I am an eggs benny girl. They had a slam dunk out of the water for this. Everhthing was perfect. Come here!! read more

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This is a review for Sunday Brunch. When we arrived, it was a long line, and it caused me to be a few minutes late for my reservation. I think there should be two lines. One if you have a reservation and one if you don't. I was asked what type of seating I preferred. I did put that request in my reservation on Open Table. I requested to sit on the main floor. The table was fine, but the seats didn't allow me to put my bag on my chair. I requested the seats to be switched out and that request was honored. For brunch there was unlimited drinks. I requested the champagne instead of Mimosas. However, I didn't feel the Champagne was flowing as much as the Mimosas was. Our server Vee did a good job making sure our glasses weren't empty for too long. For brunch I had the Essex Burger and fries. The burger for my guest wasn't cooked as requested. A new order had to be put in. We received a complimentary macaroni and cheese, it was delicious. When the order came back out, it was cooked as requested. Overall, I loved the ambiance and vibe of the restaurant. I will visit again. read more

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Ok went here with a friend on a Sunday. No wait for a table, but somewhat empty. We had their bottomless brunch option. Mimosas, bloody mary or aperol spritz are the options. The music was decent but the space seemed too big with a lack of people. Our server was nice and the food was just ok. Not bad but nothing spectacular! Huevos rancheros, skillet pancake and salmon eggs benedict pictured below. read more

Essex - Chilaquiles, skillet pancake, salmon benedict, turkey bacon - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Came here on a Saturday night with my side of the wedding party. We were a party of about 30 which typically present an ordering nightmare. However, the service was wonderful and I don't think they missed anything. The only problem was more of the kitchen being able to keep up because we had two large table, about 15 to a table and one table was done with their main course before the other table received theirs. The food was great and the steaks were cooked perfectly per request. Price is average and the portions were great. My favorites were probably the tomato and cucumber salad, brussels sprouts, steak and truffle fries. read more

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The inside is large and great for crowds . They have a great bottomless brunch offering . The day I went brunch was served until 5:00 PM . The food was mediocre at best. I had Avocado Toast which was just basic. Also ordered the Manchego Mac N Cheese. It was just ok. Service was great though. Main subway station close by. read more

Essex - Manchego Mac 'n' Cheese - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

I came here with my parents for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. The first thing we noticed when we stepped in the restaurant was how loud it was. The loud music blaring through the speakers meant that everyone in the restaurant needed to shout to each other to be heard. I ordered the New Aristocrat, which was burrata and salmon on a slice of sourdough with arugula on the side. The food was fine, if a little pricy for what it is. Everything on the brunch menu is the same price ($25 as of May '25). read more

Essex - The New Aristocrat - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

The vibe was great and the food was delicious. Highly recommend their steak -- super tender, flavorful, and juicy! read more

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The Essex offers a memorable experience, largely thanks to its incredible service and lively atmosphere. From the moment you walk in, the vibe is upbeat and energetic without feeling chaotic, making it a great spot for a date night, a celebration, or just hanging out with friends. The highlight of the night was easily the service--especially Helena. If you're planning a visit, definitely ask for her. She is warm, attentive, and genuinely invested in making sure you have a great time. Her recommendations were thoughtful, and she checked in the perfect amount without being intrusive. The food, however, is where The Essex falls a bit short. It's not bad by any means, but it leans toward the mediocre side, especially considering the price point and the otherwise elevated feel of the restaurant. The flavors were fine, but nothing particularly memorable or standout. That said, the cocktails were solid, and paired with the great music and overall ambience, the night still felt enjoyable. Despite the food not fully impressing, the vibes and service absolutely carry the experience. If you're looking for a fun night out with consistently good energy, friendly staff, and a setting that feels very "New York," The Essex is still worth visiting. read more

Came here for the bottomless mimosas, but ended up being blown away by the entre. I ordered the New Aristocrat which consisted of cured salmon on burrata and sourdough bread topped with roe, and radish sprouts on the side. It was delicious. The burrata was extremely creamy and really complimented the salmon with some saltiness punching through from the roe. Highly recommend. I initially thought the greens were arugula which I love because it had the same peppery taste but it turned out to be radish sprouts. No complaints there. The mimosas kept on coming and I had a great time. Only gripe was that we weren't able to extend our time due to how busy they were on a Saturday at 12:30 PM . I feel like we barely had time to drink enough mimosas. But still worth a visit and I am already looking forward to my next visit here. read more

Essex - The New Aristocrat - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

I honestly had a pretty great brunch experience here! Essex kindly allowed us to not only add an additional gust to our reservation, but had a nice grace period as well. My party was seated immediately upstairs and served by Helena, who was wonderful, attentive and kept our bottomless drinks flowing. The table got complimentary bread rolls (plain and raisin) with butter. They came out col/room temperature and were ok. I decided to order the Quinoa & Kale Salad with bottomless mimosas. This salad was great! There was an even/hefty portion of kale, quinoa, pear, feta and pine nuts. I was really impressed at how evenly distributed everything was in the salad and delicious. The dressing was. I had tofu as my protein which came cold and while could have been a great way to add an additional flavor, was it just ok. I'll give it to them for the generous portion sizes though. I left full without finishing and had leftovers. There was a boiled egg cut in half on top which was a nice touch too. I also tried my friends avocado toast. This was fantastic, from the generous portions of avocado, to the fresh bread. This had *perfectly* poached eggs on top as well. Really great, healthy or hearty items on the menu. Fast and experienced staff, large portions and reasonable prices. This was a great brunch! read more

Essex - Bread rolls - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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I came here for a private party. We were seated upstairs. We had shareable passable appetizers. We had meatballs, pita and hummus spread, calamari, fries, kale caesar salad, and mini sliders. We also had celebratory champagne. The food was good, no complaints. The servers were nice and everything was seamless. Its not far from the subway and its by a lot of stores. The lighting was just really dark upstairs and downstairs. The restroom was super cramped as well. I'd love to maybe see it during the day for brunch or lunch and see what the vibe is like though. read more

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Had our wedding reception here. Food was fantastic, waiter was very kind and patient with our party of 16. Great environment! Cake was delivered here, and they were kind enough of to cake care of it! read more

Came for Sunday brunch. We found parking very easy on the same street just one block down. We had a reservation for a party of 4 to celebrate my friend's 50th. We were promptly seated on the upper level. Our server, Rafael, was AMAZING! He was sweet, attentive and kept the mimosas flowing (we got the bottomless brunch deal and it was well worth it!) Three of us ordered the steak and eggs which came with potatoes and salad. It was good, my only note is that the steak could've been cooked better, and it was kind of fatty. Everything else was excellent. One friend ordered the Essex burger, which I tried, and it was even better than the steak and eggs in my opinion. Mimosas were light on the OJ which was nice. We ordered the chocolate mousse dessert which we shared. It was very good. Rafael put the candles I brought and he sang with us. He was just awesome. The place itself was very nice inside, loved the color patterns and overall aesthetic. Pop music was playing, loud enough to hear it but not too loud so you can't hear each other. Great experience. We left full, happy and feeling nice from the mimosas to go to our next event. We all said we will definitely go back! Highly recommend for a group brunch or a date. read more

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This was the post disappointing meal I've had in a long time. I ordered from the Restaurant Week menu. The shrimp and grits was delicious, but the steak had no flavor and was tough. The potatoes and tomatoes were also flavorless. The panna cotta and service were just meh. read more

I have not been to Essex in years since it was in another location and full disclosure, I have only been to brunch. So I made a reservation for a Sunday brunch recently because they seemed to have a great brunch deal. First, the place is super cute. I loved the lighting and decor. It is a pretty big restaurant with two floors. The bathrooms however are small and dark (not in a good way). The brunch was a really good deal. It was an entree with unlimited either mimosas, Aperol spritz, bloody marys or screw drivers. I chose Aperol spritz which was really good considering it was batched. The server kept the drinks coming! She was very nice and accommodating. My friends had the burger, steak and eggs, and shrimp and grits. I had a the kale salad with steak and some fries. The food was very good and flavorful. I dont expect much from a boozy brunch but I was pleasantly surprised that this was actually good. The place was packed so make a reservation! The only thing I feel like brunch is missing is a good DJ playing some hype music. I will definitely be back though. read more

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It's restaurant week!! My cousin and i stepped in because we were in the area and wanted a quick bite to eat. I've only been here for brunch so it was nice to see it at night/ dimly lit, pretty vibey and even though they had music on, i could still hear my cousin speak to me. It was great. It was 9pm on a Saturday night and we just walked in without a reservation! They immediately sat us down and we decided to order! I will say, shoutout to Juan, our server, and a woman who always listened to our feedback (i wish i learned her name because she was AWESOME). Now food: for restaurant week for $45, you get an app, entree and a dessert. I ordered the scallops, lamb shank (an additional $5), and the panna cotta. My cousin ordered the scallops, the skirt steak (an additional $10 i think), and the olive oil cake! The scallops were cooked really well and had good flavor. I didn't care for the green sauce on the plate but my cousin appreciated it when the flavors blended. But they were great small bites. The lamb shank though?!? FALLING OFF THE BONE YOU HEAR ME?! With the orzo! An ALMOST perfect plate. I just wish the lamb shank had a dash more salt. My cousin's steak also needed a dash more salt and when we gave our feedback (they test ran the menu prior and was open to feedback) she was super receptive and brought us out some salt and sauces for my cousin's steak. That was really appreciated. The dessert though? Didn't really speak to me. The panna cotta had roasted peaches on top but it didn't marry well together- pretty blah to me. My cousin's olive oil cake tasted more like a brownie so i was a bit disappointed but it didn't sway me otherwise. The drinks were good- very cute. My particular drink leaned more on the sweet side versus spirit forward but i was okay with that. Overall, i was surprised by my experience because Essex is known for its bar and brunch but for a quick dinner, i would go back read more

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I visited Essex for brunch. The atmosphere was nice. Some decent much playing not too loud. The place decor is simple modern and pretty. I liked that they had complentary bread but the down was it wasn't warmed and was on the dry side. The grilled chicken was ok, the bread didn't give fresh and wasn't toasted but it wasn't hard. The fries were good. I asked for a side of mixed green salad, and it was just that with light dressing. The wine serving was less than what I expected. The waitress (Raquel) was very polite, wlling to answer questions and attentive. She checked on me multiple times. I'd probably return and try something else because of the service Raquel showed and ambiance. The bathroom was pretty clean and neat. It's a 3.5 for me. read more

Essex - Brunch menu - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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It was okay. Our experience at Essex wasn't bad by any means, but it wasn't anything special. In terms of the food my salmon was good, but not great. It wasn't bad by any means, but it just was very basic and nothing special. It was cooked well, but could definitely have use some more flavor. One person in our party got the burger and did not like it at all, but I can't speak to that as I did not try it. The service was good, albeit a bit slow but it was a busy Friday night so I don't take that as a knock against the restaurant. Ambience is good. The vibe is actually very cool inside and definitely added to the experience. I don't know that we'll come back to Essex, but I'm glad that we tried it read more

Essex - ATLANTIC SALMON - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

So apparently there s a limit to the number of pictures you can post here. I tried my best to give you a well rounded visualization of my experience here. My friends and I went for Restaurant Week in August. I must say I was thrilled to dine here. Decor was modern and very chic. We sat at a table right in the open window which was a great invitation to the restaurant. Bar was a beauty, chandeliers were exquisite and facility was very large for an NYC establishment boasting a 2nd floor. I did hit the bathroom early on. Again very chic and completely spotless. My friends were seated when I arrived but our waiter was most kind and professional. We complimented him, his service and the restaurant all night. So many restaurants give below-average service so it was definitely appreciated to have a positive experience The pre-fixe menu included a variety of the dishes pictured below and I must say no one in my group left a crumb on their plates! Cocktails were finely crafted and desserts were a party to the palette. The Pineapple Ravini was a complete surprise and the highlight. I really felt this restaurant gave the full New York experience for a Saturday night out. I will go back again as I heard they have a great brunch. Patronizing here was my pleasure! read more

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The ambiance at this place was upbeat. If you're looking for a bottomless drink with your weekend brunch and not a food savvy person, then this is the place to go with a group of friends to have a good time and vibes. The service is very good and the servers made sure your glass is always filled, whether if it's mimosas, Bloody Mary, screwdriver, etc. However, the food is too salty for my taste buds. I ordered the salmon eggs Benedict and had better from elsewhere. The salmon was too dry, the eggs were overcooked and not runny like it should be, and I thought there would be an English muffin under the salmon. If it was supposed to be a muffin it was over toasted and harder than a cracker. I was truly disappointed in the quality of my order. read more

A huge brunch spot a block away from Delancey. They have outdoor seating and indoor seating with two floors. The place played music kind of loud and it was crowded with people on a Saturday afternoon as well so it was kind of hard to hear people on the other side of the table talk if in big groups. Upon seating, we received a huge plate of complimentary bread which were ok. I came here with my coworkers and we all got the weekend brunch special which comes with bottomless drinks (mimosa, aperol Spritz, and beer). The drinks were pretty good for the price and the servers kept refilling our mimosa cups without us having to ask. For the entree, everyone seemed to be stuck between the steak and fries as well as the buttermilk fried chicken sandwich. The verdict was that both were very good. I got the steak and fries and was surprised I finished the whole thing myself because I usually don't eat a lot. The steak was cooked to perfection as per request and seasoned very well. It was even precut into small pieces already! The scramble eggs with the hot sauce and potatoes were a nice extra touch to the whole meal. Lovely atmosphere, employees, and food. Would definitely come back again! read more

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Gluten free friends beware - I went for brunch and ordered the LES BEC that was clearly marked as GF, and when it arrived there was a huge chunk of bread taking up half the plate. I assumed it was not GF based on the look but asked just to be sure, and they confirmed it was not. Apparently the menu was an old print and they had added the toast because other guests made complaints about not receiving bread with something named a BEC. Fine if you change the order based on feedback, but update the menus or tell your staff to inform guests if that's the case so you don't create risk for other customers who actually have an allergy and are ordering based on the ingredients listed. read more

So yesterday for my birthday I popped in for a solo brunch and omg! The brunch menu was amazing and unlimited mimosas. The bar staff was on point, my glass wasnt even a quarter empty and they refilled and tipped me off. Food service was very fast and delicious. The vibes on Sunday were great very social but ok for a solo meal too. read more

Essex - Shrimp and grits - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Expensive, mid brunch. My steak came out medium/medium-well rather than medium-rare. Aside from the end piece, the steak was very tough and unseasoned. I regretted ordering my eggs scrambled because they immediately reminded me of college dorm eggs- premixed, dry, and straight out of a carton. I doubt they used fresh eggs for this. Salad was alright. Potatoes were alright- not anything incredible. Servers were nice and attentive, had to flag them down a couple times. The interior kind of lacks atmosphere, aside from the booth tables in the back. read more

Essex - Steak and eggs - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

I came here for trivia night and happy hour, and I had a great time. It's been way too long since I've been to Essex. This was my stomping grounds for happy hour, brunch, and dinner. For those who've back in the day they are located right across the street from La Caverna. We had: East Coast Oysters w/ $1.50 ($1 on Thursdays) Truffle Parmesan Fries-$8 Manchego Mac and Cheese w/ chorizo $10 +$5 chorizo Veal Meatballs- $10 Red Sangria- $7 Mega Mule- $9 The chorizo gave a nice spicy kick to the cheesy mac & cheese. I highly recommend adding the chorizo. Truffle Parmesan fries were really delicious. The meatballs were very tender and the marinara sauce paired really well with it. As you can see I don't even have a video of it not eaten. I really enjoyed the Shallot Mignonette that was for the oysters. They also do bottomless brunch here and trivia nights. This is a perfect place to go on a date relax with friends and family for drinks and food or girls made out. They also have a upper area where you can book for private events. I can't wait to come back. Happy Hour Sunday-Thursday 5pm-7pm read more

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Veronica was amazing!!! made sure our drinks were FULL as needed and took care of us in every respect :) definitely coming back here again!! pictured: steak and eggs, shrimp and grits, etc read more

SHOUTOUT TO OUT SERVER LINDA!! She was so kind and responsive for our table. This place has a great vibe and aesthetic.

I recommend going to Essex for the Happy Hour! Great offerings for good prices. My favorites on the Happy Hour menu would be the Parmesan truffle fries ($8) and artisanal burrata with pesto flatbread ($12). All signature cocktails are $9. I'm not an oyster fan but lots of people love the $1.50 fresh east coast oysters. Happy Hour is from 5pm-7pm on Sundays through Fridays. You sit towards the front of the restaurant and service is pretty quick. The restaurant definitely gives after work vibes. The lighting is low but it's nice inside and the seating for happy hour is on high tables. read more

Went for the boozy brunch with 5 other friends. We got there an hour early and they still sat us early which was great. Drinks were super strong and they filled them up quickly. Service with the drinks was great! We got mimosas mainly and tried one round of screwdrivers but they were too strong for more than 1. Food was okay. Bread that came out when we sat down was stale. My avocado toast came with a side of meat. Avocado toast was average and good. Chicken apple sausage was lukewarm and I didn't eat it. My friends liked their dishes except one didn't like the french toast because it was stuffed with cream cheese. If that's your taste, you'll probably like it. Potatoes were really good! I honestly would've given it 2 stars if not for the great drink service. It ended up being about $60 per person which I didn't really think was worth it for the entree I had. I probably wouldn't go back since I didn't love the food. Ambiance was nice though. read more

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Excellent food and LOVELY EXPERIENCE WITH LINDA she is absolutely the best and made our double date incredible! Can't wait to be back :-)

Our host was Selena. Our waiter was Helen and Essex owes us nothing although my party of 15 arrive late I was on time to receive their well welcome. The bottomless brunch it does its job and it gets us LITTY in a BITTY. That means they add a drop of juice in their cocktails!!! Our table enjoyed almost everything from the brunch menu, and even customize the shrimp and grits to add salmon, beautiful choice. We had a great time. The music was great as well. read more

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I am on the fence of whether to leave 3 or 4 stars on this review because I did not like the service or the customer base of this restaurant but I surprisingly really liked the food. I visited for a friend's birthday during restaurant week so took advantage of three course menu. I had the salmon crudo to start off with which was alright. The steak was actually pretty good and really filling but the real star of the show was the Panna Cotta. Perfect sour to sweet balance and I haven't stopped raving about it since I had it. Our service was outstandingly slow. We had made a reservation well in advance but still stood around with very little help/acknowledgment for 30 minutes. The waiters seemed confused most of the time and sometimes forgot some of our requests. The place also turns into a club after 11(?) so at some point we were asked to hurry up cause they had to remove the tables... the experience was worsened by some screaming patrons nearby us and while I'm sure they were just having a good time, it did make our time uncomfortable. read more

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