Simply magical! (Trust me, I would know) I was here mid-week with some friends. There was some parking in their lot and lots available on nearby side streets. The restaurant is a collection of intimate areas, a bar, an inside dining room, an upstairs dining room with occasional live music, a wine store, and an outdoor patio. We started in the smallish, divey-chic bar and enjoyed selections for their two dozen or so beers on tap. From there we moved the their outdoor patio for more drinks and food. The frozen drinks were all great and the Bourbon Slushie was greatest. The food was tasty, visually appealing, generously portioned, and reasonably priced. Even though this place is a bit of a drive, I plan on going back and will confidently recommend it to anyone who will listen. Like, for example, you. read more

Evening Star Cafe - Lots of draft beer choices. - New American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

If I could give 25 stars I would! The cleanliness, the quiet music in the background, the joyful staff, who made eye contact, and had great customer service, they were very, very genuine, and just lovely people! The waiter suggested a great wine to pair with my meal! He nailed it! The food: Boudin balls, brussels sprouts, gorgeous salad, just nailed everything! Seriously flavorful with different herbs, spices, seasonings, And greatness in passion for the way it was cooked! Yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy hell yeah we're coming back! read more

We have come here for brunch several times, and always had an enjoyable and delicious meal, and good experience. However, today was absolutely terrible. First, they basically don't have servers anymore apparently. Like many restaurants these days, you scan a QR code to read the menu, which is fine, but it's really nice to be able to interact with someone to ask questions, or even welcome you as a guest. The host basically dropped us off at the table, and disappeared (which had a water jug but no glasses for us, and for which we weren't able to get glasses for until we flagged someone down-because again, no server). After ordering through the app, the food came from a runner, who dropped it off and walked away. The coffee I ordered came in a to-go cup, which frankly is wasteful considering I wanted to sit there and enjoy my coffee in a mug like I've always done here. We can't serve coffee in a mug anymore because of COVID? Then I asked for a spoon for the cream and sugar, and the runner brought back a serving spoon! For real, it barely fit in the cup. Finally, the food wasn't nearly as good as it normally is; the English muffins for my Eggs Benedict were burnt, but I did eat them because I was starving. My wife specifically asked for Tabasco for her Bloody Mary, and was given a little cup of some other random hot sauce which isn't what she wanted. Listen, I get things have changed a bit because of COVID, and restaurants have had to adapt, but this can't be an excuse to provide crappy service, worse food, and to take away all the little things that make eating out enjoyable. This is all especially infuriating when they require you pay for the meal when you order, to include providing the tip! Why am I tipping when I don't even have a server? Had I known I wouldn't have a server, and the service would essentially be just running the food to my table, I certainly would have adjusted the tip amount appropriately. I went to Denny's a few weeks ago and despite a few minor modifications, service was good and food was great. Should have just gone back there today. read more

Went back to Star again on a Saturday. They were at full capacity with a party in full swing in the upstairs lounge but the staff was still friendly and attentive. Hostess remembered us from Prior visit which was lovely and very keeping with the restaurant's homey neighborhood feel. Had the burger again, which is amazing, and guests had steak frites and beets and Brussels. Everything was on point. Working our way through the fall cocktail list. All yummy (but a little too sweet but they made to taste for us.! This time we saved room for dessert and the grandma's cake was insane and big enough to share. Really glad this place is still around and still so reliable. read more

Loved the inside of the restaurant, it's cute and rustic! Loved the light fixtures. We went in for brunch and they immediately sat us, the hostess was prompt with our orders and food came out quicker than expected! Overall food was delicious, and we look forward to coming back again! read more

House-cured bacon Benedict. So good. Take my word for it. The consistency of the eggs is unreal and the sauce and side salad are delicious. The bacon is obviously the best part. read more

Evening Star Cafe - New American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

We had a thoroughly enjoyable dinner at the Evening Star - pleasant service, very nice surroundings, and delicious food. Among the three of us, we had mussels, chicken liver pate and sprout salad as our starters. For dinner, I had duck and eggplant in a spicy chili sauce, while my dining companions both had salmon. The mussels were great - the mussels were medium sized, and perfectly cooked. The white wine and garlic broth was wonderfully robust, and I really enjoyed sopping it up with the sturdy bread supplied. The chicken liver pate was topped with a port wine reduction, and pickled mustard seeds. I definitely want to revisit that dish!! My duck and eggplant was excellent, and the spicy chili sauce set it off nicely. My companions' salmon was properly cooked, and looked good. They said it was good, but i was too busy with my duck to take the offered tastes. For dessert, we had a tres leches sponge cake with apples and crunchy bits, that was light, just a little sweet, and wonderfully apple-y. The food is great, the dining room is pretty, and the service is fine, but I do have a few quibbles with the Star. First of all, if you have any mobility issues, I would hesitate to recommend going there. The entrance has two hard-to-manoeuvre steps into a narrow dark hallway with no handrail. Next, the dining room is way too noisy!! We got there right at opening, but once more diners filled the room, my friends and I ended up shouting at each other to try to carry on a conversation. read more

Love the Evening Star and want to support my local area restaurants, and have been a few times during COVID, but disappointed. The new outdoor seating area and dome with heaters is GREAT. Touchless (QR code) menu is good, but food selection available is just okay. The brunch menu is very disappointing. Also majorly disappointed in cocktail selection. Wine and beer drinkers - you'll be fine, but mixed drinks aren't happening... except for the few specialty drinks they offer, which just don't sound great, and are too pricey to try (and risk not liking). Even when not busy, there's not much service anymore, other then someone dropping off your food. Evening Star has always been a neighborhood favorite, just wanted the new experience to be a bit better. read more

Evening Star Cafe - Heated dome for winter season outdoor dining - New American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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I want to express what a wonderful evening I had at Evening Star with friends. There was a wonderful female manager who paid special attention to how our meal was going. The food was splendid - recommend the meatloaf and wonderful chocolate pudding, but the others at my table equally enjoyed their meals. Thank you Evening Star and the manager and staff for a lovely night. read more

Thoroughly enjoyed our meal out back in the dining area with the movie screen and cabanas. So creative as a result of the pandemic. We moved to Charlottesville almost 20 years ago and were delighted to be back in our old stomping ground and at the Evening Star Cafe! read more

The eggs and gravy was amazing!! Highly recommend the French toast and yogurt which tasted like whipped cream!!

The flavors were delicious, perfect little spot for Brunch. Good service, though a bit busy during restaurant week. Nice place to dine for dinner or breakfast! read more

The bottom line: evening star remains consistently tasty, with good service and drinks. Recently I've enjoyed the Oaxacan Hipster (PBR and Mescal) and just tried the spicy fried Korean cauliflower, which was great gochjang zing and crunch. I've also been very pleased with the burgers. Will definitely continue to visit The Front Porch, the inside, and the bar. read more

I had a REALLY great pandemic-date experience here! The yard is adorable. We got our own cabana so even though it ended up raining, we were *covered*! They have all virtual ordering, so very minimal contact with the staff (they were really friendly when we did see them!) and you can easily request more utensils, to-go boxes, etc. through the website...and the food was great!! I will definitely be back read more

4.5 stars -- a seriously solid brunch spot! After hearing mucho about Evening Star's Duck Hash brunch dish, and walking by it on a regular basis whilst traversing down Mt. Vernon Ave to check out Del Ray, I finally had an opportunity to try out brunch at this super hip place myself. Unbeknownst to me, there was a big craft fair going on right outside Evening Star's doors, so there was no wait for brunch (they don't take brunch reservations) and even though there was a lot happening outside, service was good! I started with a coffee and a sticky bun for the table, then got the famous duck hash, it was DELICIOUS. Seriously, so, so good. Flavorful shredded duck, delicious potatoes, a perfect fried egg with runny yolk... tons of flavor, so, so, so yummy. I could have eaten two! The sticky bun was really good too. The reason why this is just shy of 5 is because while I loved my meal, a couple of people in my party weren't crazy about theirs. The crab cake benedict in particular was delicious sounding in theory, but the actual crab cake was very heavy with the breading with little crab in the mix. That said, of course, as mentioned, the duck hash was seriously boss. Om nom nom. read more

Evening Star Cafe - Sticky bun! - New American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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I got to try this place out on a late Sunday afternoon. I must say, this is a cute spot, inside and out. Our waitress was SUPER friendly and accomodating. We tried to dine outside, but had to cancel those plans because the sun was just too unbearable! I would love to go back on a cooler day, just to see what the dining experience would be like. I wanted to order something I usually don't, so I went with the Huevos Loca Tostada. This was basically, scrambled eggs, pico de gallo, cheese, cilantro and a fresno chili sauce all on top of a corn tortilla! So yummy. I just wish there was a bit more chili sauce and cilantro- to kick the spice up. I also ordered a side of Bacon. I have to be honest though, their Pimento Bacon Burger stole the show!! If you order this 8oz patty, you WILL think about it once it's gone. The flavors were great, I felt like I could taste the grill! All in all, their entree prices were inexpensive, the restaurant is family friendly, and the service is wonderful. You have to visit! read more

Evening Star Cafe - New American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Since the renovation, and most importantly, since Will Artley left, it's just not the same anymore. It's really funky and cute still, but in an almost overly contrived way. Things are getting better, as I know that the restaurant group helps cultivate new young chefs, but they are still in that inconsistent stage. It really makes me miss the old ESG - especially the level they had attained in the last 2 years or so of Artley's reign. Of the things I've had since the grand reopening: - Biscuits. One day they were great ordered separately. One day they were overly dry and dense in a brunch dish. - Pimiento poppers were heavy on the cream cheese and low on the pimiento cheese, so they were missing that tangy zing. They reminded me of jalapeno poppers stuffed with cream cheese rather than monterey jack and/or cheddar. - Kim chi half smokes are great when executed properly. Once (during the last Del Ray art fest), the housemade hot dog was made perfectly - great flavor and much preferred over those of Ben's Chili Bowl - but the bun was so dry that it crumbled and completely disintegrated at first bite. Another time, the half smoke was fried until the ends were dry and blackened, but the bun was perfect. The one thing that they do have, though - is that their fries are crazy addicting. Over the past couple of weeks, I've realized that these are my favorite fries in the DC metro area. The perfect amount of sea salt on them is what really takes them over the top. And randomly, their mustard is like a really strong, housemade English mustard - what a kick. Love it. The Majestic bar in the back (which brings up my overall rating to 3 stars) still has all the same players and regulars though. It's a neighborhood bar but now also a great place for a couple of after-dinner drinks when on a date. We love Evan, the bartender on Sunday through Thursdays. The one plus after the renovation is that they now have so many beers on tap now, including many local or regional ones, coming out the fronts of rigged retro Frigidaires. They rotate often. The bar menu is open until midnight every day, but does not include the seafood option(s) after the main ESG kitchen closes. If you keep your ear to the ground, every crawfish season they have stellar spicy boiled live crawfish from Louisiana on one day only. Last year, though, they made it a crawfish low country boil to reflect the new chef's roots more instead of the owners'; I wasn't able to try it. read more

I'm sorely disappointed with the change in chef and menu at the Evening Star. This used to be my favorite place to eat ever and they have eliminated or changed the best menu items since the last chef left. The delicious chicken biscuit sliders are just gone and they have changed the French Toast to include some "smoked candied jam" that resembles smoked blood clots. And there was no warning either. Instead of receiving six delicious pieces of flash fried French Toast with banana slices and candied pecans, I received three pieces (a slice and a half of bread) of soggy toast drizzled in this smoked atrocity for the same price. Needless to say, I will probably not be returning which is a shame because it had become a weekly tradition for me and my son to go there after church every Sunday. And the lack of the chicken biscuits? Unforgivable. read more

I really enjoyed the food and service! Sam was my server and was highly attentive and charming. Food and drinks came out exactly as ordered and within 10mins. All extra requests came in short time. My party of two split the Vermonter and Fried chicken and waffles. The cinnamon bun wasn't my favorite combination but I can see how it could be to some people's taste. It wasn't overly sweet and had a nice crisp crust on it. The egg was medium done and the chicken was juicy. The fries that came with it were amazing! The fries tasted naturally cut but with a nice crunch to the outside. Not super crunchy but a nice touch of it. The chicken and waffles were good. I thought the chicken could be more crunchy but it still tasted amazing. It came with a jalapeño hot sauce that paired greatly. The waffles were great and fluffy. Only downside was the temperature. It was the hottest day of this heat wave so it could be understandable but I was still sweating inside. I'd recommend this place! read more

This past weekend I went for brunch at Evening Star Cafe. It was packed and we got the last table they had left inside. My friend and I both ordered the blood orange mimosas. They took a little while to come out, but our waitress apologized for the delay and said the bartender was still working on making them (which I was utterly perplexed as to where the bartender was because the bartender was not visible in the area we were seated in!). However, it was worth the short wait because they were quite tasty. We placed our order, my friend ordered the pimento cheese benedict, while I ordered the blueberry pancakes. We also added on a glazed doughnut to share. The doughnut was a great addition as it was warm and so delicious! Our food came out pretty quickly and I really enjoyed my blueberry pancakes, which had whipped brown sugar cream and toasted pecans, although I did have to wait for our waitress to come back to ask for some syrup because that wasn't originally brought out with the pancakes. My friend said that she liked the pimento cheese benedict, although it was a little too runny and the english muffins needed to be a little thicker to be able to soak up everything because it made it a bit hard to eat. She also commented that the lightly dressed side salad was a nice accompaniment. I also liked that they gave us a carafe of water, more restaurants need to take a page from Evening Star Cafe and put extra water on the table. Our waitress was friendly and attentive throughout our meal. The one downside I would note is because it is an open floor plan with the entire cafe just being one open space, it was a bit noisy. However, the food was very reasonably priced for the entrees we ordered and tasty. I would go back to Evening Star Cafe again for brunch in the future. Overall, I would rate it at 3.5 stars. read more

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The good: 1. Great, spicy bloody marys. They have some serious kick. 2. The duck hash. The disappointing: Chicken and waffles. The fried chicken was super bland and could have used some more spices on it. Waffle was fine. read more

I think that "A-Ok" is a perfect way to describe Evening Star Cafe. I'd actually heard about them before I ever dined there and I'll admit, while the food wasn't bad, I was a little disappointed based on what I'd read. Full disclosure - I've only dined at the bar and at the bar area upstairs - I've been there twice because a friend's band was playing. They have a great beer selection. Tons of options on draft and they offer $2 off certain drafts during happy hour. I forget what I ordered the time before, but this past visit I ordered the Schafly Pumpkin (yes, I ordered pumpkin beer in August. I became "that girl"). I've had a variety of items from their menu. My personal favorite is the fried brie - nice, crispy brie (not greasy) accompanied by toasted bread and pepper jelly. A great appetizer. This past time I had the pulled pork sliders. Not bad, not wonderful. I'd order them again. The time before that, I had a burger. Again, nothing sticks out as being fabulous but nothing bad. Hence, the "A-OK" rating. I will return and keep eating there as long as my friend's band plays there...not sure I'd make a special trip there for any other reason, though. read more

I've been wanting to eat at Evening Star for years and have been passing by it for years whenever I visited the Del Rey neighborhood of Alexandria, VA. I ordered take-out from here recently and was sadly disappointed. The portion I received was TINY for the amount my food cost. I'm trying to give all restaurants a good rating right now because I know how difficult the pandemic has been, but I can't in good conscience give this place more than 2 stars. My food was really salty and I got a really small, measly portion for the $29 my steak dish cost. It was a laughably small portion. They didn't even give me a full head of corn, but rather just a few slices. The potatoes were also tiny. I couldn't believe it. I was really hungry still. We also got a burger and fries and those were really plain / nothing to write home about. I think I'll visit again after the pandemic and give them another try, but my experience here was not great. There are other options in the Del Rey area. read more

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Had dinner here tonight and it was lack luster for sure. The server was nice but the service was mediocre. Our drinks took 15 minutes to get and at one point I ordered coffee. Confusion ensued and I had to reorder only to be told it'd be another 5 minutes. Apparently they didn't have coffee but it was on the minute. The apps were good. The food was room temp and the portions weren't that great given the price. We sat without water refills for a while and I ordered a diet coke and it was warm. No ice reveal. The kicker is that there were only three tables in the place at any given time. read more

Loved everything about this place. Excellent service, quirky but pleasant decor, relaxed ambiance and most importantly, great food! For starters we tried the pork croquettes with paprika aioli, which were tasty, as well as a special: pork belly fried "rice" (house grown wheat) that was amazing. Our mains were the ribeye with kholrabi and tasso ham (perfectly cooked MR, flavorful side dish) and the shrimp pesto pasta. The shrimp were tender and flavorful, the pasta fresh and the pesto was creamy, but very light and bright. Our server Todd was great. He was quick to answer questions and his recommendations were on point, especially when it came to the chocolate semifreddo with blood orange. Simply amazing. We are new to the area and this place has been one of our favorite discoveries. We hope we can make it a regular spot. read more

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i would say 2.5-3. Be prepared to spend $$$! Very quaint restaurant and you definitely have to make a reservation. Neighborhood street parking so prepare to walk if you don't find a close spot. They have a hidden bar upstairs that is good for waiting and hanging out before or after your meal. The restaurant itself was a very tight space, also connected to a bar in the back by a hallway that has the restrooms and a coat rack (also very narrow). We got the fried cauliflower and grilled pork belly to start. Both were amazing, especially the pork belly. The fried cauliflower was similar to the Indian cauliflower appetizer. For entrees we ordered the duck 2 ways, grilled flat iron and pork chop. The duck was very, very salty, steak was a bit chewy, but the pork chop was phenomenal. Wish I took a photo of it! It was very flavorful, not gamey, and a massive portion. The portions in general are quite large, so definitely consider sharing dishes if you also get an appetizer, or to try different options on the menu (there aren't that many). If you need a lot of things to choose from, this place is not for you. If you are indecisive, then this selective menu will help in your favor. read more

Evening Star Cafe - New American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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If I could give this place 10 stars, I would. The venue in itself is adorable, a turquoise building with a giant star on it, and you walk into the cafe. After you walk down the hall, you enter the main bar, and there is a second bar upstairs with pool tables, couches, and a place where local bands perform. The bathrooms were spacious and clean. The bartender who helped me (with amazing sideburns) was extremely kind and non-judgmental when I asked for a lot of help choosing drinks. He was spot on with his recommendations! This is place worth going out of your way to visit for a night out. I only have good things to say. read more

I tried the sloppy Joe, I don't recommend it. It tasted horrible. Another person in our group had the same & indicated it was not great. There's a weird aftertaste. However the live band was jamming & the great beer was flowing, overall a great time. Love the atmosphere & the space they have. read more

Total 5 star experience. I've been here many times over the years but finally feel compelled to write a review. Dinner tonight was superb. We came in on a whim, around 8pm on a Thursday. The host was cheerful and friendly, all around lovely company. Our server was attentive, informative, and entertaining. He offered detailed descriptions of all the menu items, from salads to sparkling rose. We were shocked to learn he had only been there for months and not years! His recommendations were spot on, we loved the salads (could you believe mixed greens, carrots and heirloom tomato panzanella?!) so fresh and perfectly seasoned! Order the fried chicken and Atlantic salmon and share them with your companion. Perfect balance of salty and savory with fresh Virginia grown sweetness. I will spend the rest of the summer attempting to mimic the succotash that accompanied that salmon. The cocktails, wine pairings and ambience is always on point here. Wish we had a neighborhood spot this delicious and welcoming in Falls Church. Hint, hint NRG! P.S. Our server was Calvin and he should be leading all the staff trainings. For lack of a better term his "bedside manner" couldn't have been more on point. He's awesome. read more

Evening Star Cafe - Everything about this was perceptions! - New American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Really more like 2.5 stars, but I'm rounding down. Let's start with the good. The vibes are good and the cabanas are pretty nice. The food was also decent. Came with a group for brunch and all of us enjoyed our meals. I had the quiche, which was actually really good. I also had a bite of the French toast, which was delish. Now for the bad. You order on your phone and a runner delivers your food. But you better not have any questions about the menu, because there's nobody to ask. It took us a good 15 minutes to flag someone down to ask a question, and then that person didn't know, so they had to go ask someone else, which took another 10 minutes. Our food also came out all at different times, which is really awkward when half of the group is staring at their plates while you stare at an empty spot. It just seemed like the service aspect was really off. If they had regular waitstaff I think this would have been a 3-4 star experience, but as is I don't know that I'd go back. read more

Evening star cafe is located in beautiful del Ray, the restaurant has a very hipster vibe to it but don't be afraid to go on in. Although the restaurant doesn't open till 10 am the breakfast here is outstanding. I enjoyed the eggs Benedict made with pimento cheese which gave it a nice flavor boost. Try it with a waffle on the side, their waffles are amazing here and pairs well with any meal. read more

Evening Star Cafe - Eggs Benedict with a waffle on the side - New American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Really sad. Pre COVID this was a special little place. I hope it can become that again and have to assume that the economic struggle caused by the pandemic is the reason the quality has precipitously declined. From cheap cuts of meat to grapefruit juice from a can - they are obviously obsessed with cost cutting to the point that quality has suffered severely. read more

Good brunch, great bacon. I had the biscuits and gravy and hashbrowns as well. The hashbrowns were more medallion potatoes than the traditional. I would definitely go back. read more

You have to try this. Recently changed ownership or head chefs or whatever. This has mediocre reviews, but there is nothing mediocre about the food. I live and die by yelp reviews, but this is a hidden gem waiting to be rediscovered. Chicken and waffles are the bees knees, and I recommend ordering some of the sides as "brunch appetizers" for the table. Biscuit and gravy and cinnamon roll are great, and I'm told the grits are good, though I'm by no means a grits aficionado. read more

The ambience and the food are still good. I don't know what happened, but the brunch menu that they have available now (June 2021) is terrible: only 5 main options, no cinnamon roll, no coffee refill (for regular coffee)... it was so disappointing. On top of that, they are providing some beverages in disposable cups, like water and regular coffee, and by default the tip is 20%. Next time I'll check the menu options first. read more

If you haven't been to Evening Star in a bit, it's probably time to hear back. A new executive chef and a menu that plays to the local crowd and doesn't try to hard is a nice return to what folks have always loved about this neighborhood stalwart. Evening star struggles sometimes with its own image. It's a dimly lit, bistro-centric, and intimate option for both families looking for a nice locally sourced meal. The problem has been that the food wasn't fine dining, but options oscillated between bourgeoise white napkin fare and trussed up Mac n cheese types of options. Prices were comparable to spots like Vermillion and Magnolias, with an execution level for food that didn't quite get there, consistently. The new executive chef immediately created consistency on the menu. Dinner is new American style and unpretentious, and the price is in line with that and is a steal for the quality of the food used (small plates In low teens, entrees in low 20's) service remains charming and prompt, and there's plenty of seating availability local street parking. Last word? The restaurant fits the neighborhood and has found its soul. read more

A friend had dinner here & said it was delicious so we all wanted to try out their brunch. I'm a big fan on anything Benedict, especially if it's a unique variation of it. So I got the pimento cheese Benedict. It was just okay. Others got blueberry pancakes & fried chicken and waffle. Took a bite of theirs. Both tasted better than what I had ordered. For dessert we got the toffee cinnamon bun. Before we ordered they told us their seasonal glazed doughnuts were sold out. More disappointed that others that sat & ordered after us got the doughnuts. read more

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This is probably the best dine-in restaurant in Del Ray. The food is consistently good, and always seasoned well. The place is small and cozy, but still cute and stylish. They are always super accommodating of families. My only complaint is that it can be a bit pricey. (And so glad they brought the blueberry pancakes back to the brunch menu!) read more

Absolutely love this place! The staff are all so welcoming and the seating options are great, we've been going to "the porch at evening star" which is their outdoor connected dining area. My husband loves their beer and I enjoy their cocktail options. The wings and burgers are delicious and we haven't tried anything we don't like! We highly recommend as the environment Is so aesthetic and clean and we always have a great time. read more

We waited over an hour for brunch today (dine-in on the back patio) even after receiving text messages saying our order was ready and coming right out...it still took another 15 min at that point. We were very patient as we know restaurants have struggled during this time but waiting over an hour and then not receiving any apology or explanation from the waitstaff was pretty disappointing. The food was pretty good...I had the fried chicken and waffles, my husband had the biscuits and gravy. His order was missing an item initially but promptly fixed. The outdoor back patio is really nice, great ambiance! I just wish we could have had faster service and my rating would be much higher (perhaps the major downside of QR codes is that the waiters don't check on you). read more