This was my first time here. Everything was fantastic. Service, Food, Ambiance 10/10. read more

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Went for our anniversary. Could actually speak to each other the whole evening without yelling. Food was amazing and presented beautifully; service was impeccable. Had the hamachi crudo and flounder in a coconut lemongrass broth. Husband had the peach/pork shoulder appetizer and the scallops. He enjoyed the milk chocolate semifreddo with caramel and bruleed banana; I had pannacotta with roasted bruleed figs. Loved every bite as did my husband. Didn't feel rushed, cocktails also excellent, and we will be back. read more

Hawthorne & Wood - Coconut lemongrass flounder enteee - New American Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Went for a business dinner. The cocktails and food were really good and above already high expectations. Their menu rotates frequently, so they may not have what you saw posted online. The Porkchop I ordered was huge and perfectly cooked but the star was the amazing collard greens that accompanied it. The cauliflower appetizer is also worth getting. The diners were from larger cities (Philadelphia and Washington DC areas) and were very impressed. read more

Probably one of my favorite meals in the Chapel Hill area. Even if you go for drinks and appetizers, you're in for a treat their Carolina iced tea cocktail is probably one of the best I've ever had. It truly is a hidden gem. read more

Favorite place right now!! The food is amazing! The service was excellent. Beautiful decorations, music is not loud, you can have a good conversation with friends or family while enjoying this incredible food. read more

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Excellent food and atmosphere. Would return again. Service was outstanding. Would recommend

The food was very good considering the large crowd we had. Moreover, the server was excellent. She really had presence and attention to detail. I'm impressed. read more

We loved our dinner experience at Hawthorne & Wood. To date, I think this is the best restaurant we've eaten at in Chapel Hill and it's certainly one of the best we've been to in the Triangle. The food quality here was comparable to that of other fine-dining establishments we've been to in bigger cities. Chapel Hill is lucky to have this place. This place is popular and deservedly so. I think if you want a preferable reservation time, you'll have to book at least several days in advance. I booked less than a day out and was able to get my wife and me a 5pm Saturday reservation. We checked in with a wave of 5pm customers. The restaurant and bar stayed busy for the duration of our stay. Inside, the restaurant is very classy and beautiful with a low-key, sophisticated, modern design. I liked it a lot. The restaurant is located in the East 54 mixed-use development on highway 54 near 15-501, just east of UNC Chapel Hill's campus. Plenty of free surface lot and deck parking is available outside the restaurant. Hawthorne & Wood serves New American cuisine. During our visit, the food menu was divided into three sections: Bar Snacks, First Courses, and Main Courses. Examples from each section, respectively, included Seared North Carolina Shrimp ($16), Seared Slow-Cooked Pork Shoulder ($14), and Pan-Roasted Beef Tenderloin ($42). On the drink menu, there were 16 cocktails ($11-15 each), from classic to "custom," plus over a dozen each of wine by the glass ($10-18 per) and North Carolina craft beer ($5-9 each). Here's what we got: Bar Snacks * Black Truffle Arancini ($10) - cured egg yolk, Parmigiano-Reggiano First Courses * Smoked Duck Breast Prosciutto ($16) - Huckleberry, roasted hen-of-the-woods, preserved root vegetables, pistachio genoise * Yellowfin Tuna Crudo ($16) - avocado, Fresno peppers, purple daikon, blood orange granita Main Courses * Roasted Oyster Mushroom En Presse ($28) - Hon-shimeji mushrooms, melted leeks, horseradish, sherry gastrique, chives * Seared New Bedford Scallops ($38) - smoked Thai pumpkin, farro, bacon, Ruby Streaks mustard greens, sour cherry jus Dessert * Apple Butter Cake ($8) - maple whipped cream and candied pecans * Chocolate Cream/Mousse with Amaretto cherries (complimentary) Custom Cocktails * Desolation ($14) - gin, Pernod, apple, tarragon, lemon * Bird of Paradise ($14) - Mezcal, aperol, honey, passionfruit, lime * Open Kimono ($13) - Japanese whiskey, ginger, burnt thyme In general, we thought the food and drink were incredible. From ingredient quality to execution, everything was superb. Also, each dish and cocktail was absolutely beautiful. It reminded us of some of our favorite finer-dining type restaurants back home in Atlanta, and within NC, some of the best places we've been to in Asheville. Next-level stuff for Chapel Hill, in my opinion. Every dish impressed. The Black Truffle Arancini was served in a small iron skillet. The rice balls were smothered in shaved Parm. They had warm, savory centers. The Smoked Duck Breast Prosciutto looked like a work of art, like a flower crown from the woods (all of the dishes and drinks looked like works of art). As a fan of cured meat, mushrooms, and vegetables, I really enjoyed this dish. It was light yet packed with flavor and gratifying. The Yellowfin Tuna Crudo was outstanding. The presentation was bold and colorful. The ingredients were fresh and tasty all around. My wife and I love mushrooms and we thought the Roasted Oyster Mushroom En Presse was wonderful. They were pressed mushrooms, cut into rectangles, with flaky crusts. Unique. The mushrooms were garnished with additional mushrooms, along with greens. The sherry gastrique was flavorful and went well with the mushrooms. The Seared New Bedford Scallops were terrific. They were delectably charred, plump, and delectable. We loved how Thai pumpkin was incorporated into this dish. Again, unique. The Apple Butter Cake was phenomenal. If it's available during your visit, I recommend it. The dessert was sweet, smooth, and addictive. The maple whipped cream and the syrup, altogether with the cake, were simply sublime. The Chocolate Cream/Mousse with Amaretto cherries was complimentary for my wife's birthday. It was simple and delicious. The three cocktails were equally fantastic. I didn't prefer one over another. Each was well-made and very satisfying. Service was great. I forgot our server's name, but she was knowledgeable about the menu. Her name didn't print on the receipt. The food runners were nice, including one guy whose name I do remember: Eric, who also goes by the nickname "Jolly." We were seated in a nook in the back of the restaurant, close to the kitchen. We were near a corner where the staff had to say "corner" every time they approached so they didn't run into each other. Hawthorne & Wood opened in April 2019. Chef-owner Brandon Sharp opened up sister restaurant Bluebird, in nearby Meadowmont Village, in July 2022: https://bit.ly/3HnveNj. read more

Hawthorne & Wood may be the best restaurant in Chapel Hill. The service alone is worth every penny; our servers were so attentive, informative, and knowledgeable, without seeming overbearing or pretentious. The drinks were lovely, and every course we ordered was exceptionally designed. And yeah it's expensive, but I've paid more at restaurants in Chapel Hill and received much worse food and service. H&W is a great place to impress clients or friends; it's a special place and deserves all the accolades. read more

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Great find! Food was excellent, enjoyed all the entrees we tried. Friendly service, owner was greeting tables and seemed to know some locals. If you want to experience a good meal in a pleasant environment, give it a try! read more

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A dear friend and I came to celebrate our growing friendship. The manager was a jolly man who welcomed me on entry and showed me to the lounge after I checked in. The restaurant is a great place to have an upscale hangout or celebrate an occasion. Reservations are a necessity; I'd be sad to be turned away. H&W features a rotating menu that changes every day. You can order shareables to split among a group, or you can opt for a two-course meal. One main might be enough for those who eat light. Our server was prompt and careful to time his check-ins and food delivery with our progress on our drinks. He used them as a gauge from afar. H&W has an extensive selection of wines you can get by the glass. Premium wines are only sold by the bottle. The kitchen has the cooking time down to an art. Our menu featured seafood. My scallops had a delicate flavor balance and my friend's striped bass had soft meat with a crunchy skin. Thoroughly enjoyed my experience here and look forward to my next visit. read more

We love fine dining but this was not that. Reserved in advance for a birthday and we were stuck in a long booth between other parties. It was frat-house loud, pretty much impossible to have a conversation. The food was subpar, especially for the price tag. The food also took forever, and asking the staff for the status resulted in a rude reaction. I was very excited to try this restaurant but will never go back. read more

My partner and I were highly anticipating this restaurant as many of our friends in the area I have recommended Hawthorne & Wood. He denoted in the reservation online that it was to celebrate my 25th birthday and we were quite disappointed with nothing came of it. There wasn't even any acknowledgment of the denotement. However, we understand as sometimes these things can be missed. Now for the ambience, it was lovely. The interior decor were moderate and dim lights. Very fitting for the high-quality restaurant that Hawthorne & Wood and would like to call themselves. However, the service was subpar at best. The server seemed to be in a rush to get us out. We were there for less than an hour in total. He didn't really communicate with us, kept conversations very short, perhaps he was just having a bad day. Now the food and appetizers, we had the ceviche and duck and both were good. The ceviche was tart which was unexpected but a good mix. The duck, however, was on the saltier side. But we were still happy to try for the unique combination of ingredients. Now the main entrées, the steak that I got truly blew me away. One of the best steaks in the chapel hill area, that I have tasted! The pork chop was quite delicious as well. The sauce and the pork chop itself was of a smoky salty sauce, and it was delicious. I'm not much of a fan of barbecue or smoky flavors, but my partner really enjoyed it. However, we do have to give it to the chefs that the steak was truly the star of the show. Despite having a delicious steak, we will not find ourselves coming back to Hawthorne & Wood for the service, and the lack of attention to detail. It's difficult to justify such a high price for below average service. read more

Hawthorne & Wood - New American Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Hawthorne & Wood is one of the nicer restaurants in the area. They have a modern sophisticated interior and a short but sweet menu. The dishes were predictable and average in execution for this caliber of restaurant, but that's comparing to restaurants in larger cities. Beet Salad 4/5 - Our server offered to split this onto two plates for us and it arrived so beautifully presented. I wish the flavors were brighter and more contrasted, it came off overall a bit salty. Barbecue Shrimp 2/5 - It comes with five small-medium shrimp haha and a strangely sweet(?) sauce. The "cornbread" didn't taste of cornmeal and instead resembled a dense, failed homemade biscuit/bread. Duck Confit Cassoulet 4.5/5 - The rich fatty flavor of the duck melded well with the salty cassoulet. The duck had crispy skin as promised, and soft tender meat. Flounder 1/5 - I must take some blame for this one because I saw it on the menu and said "every new american restaurant does this fish and coconut curry/soup dish and it always falls flat." But I was feeling fish and wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt. I should've stuck to my guns. The fish was cooked just fine but the coconut broth is so uninspired and lacking in flavor. Didn't finish it and didn't wanna take it home. Pork Chop 4/5 - This thing is huge. It was cooked quite nicely for pork, but did taste under seasoned and dry on its own. The sauce was actually really delicious but there wasn't enough to go around so you're just eating the last half of the pork chop plain. Our server was a little brusque but very competent. I don't care if the server doesn't fake a smile for us, but some people may. Overall we had a nice time and enjoyed our meal. Glad we tried it but don't feel a desire to come back again. read more

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Lighting is very low, to the point it was a little difficult to really 'see' the food well (you could easily hide mistakes in the cooking process). Food felt mildly overpriced for what it was trying to be. I think pricing around $30 instead of $40-$50 would make it more reasonable. Nothing tasted bad, however I feel the 'casual fine dining' atmosphere is what is allowed the prices to be what they are. Pork belly appetizer was interesting, however would have liked perhaps one extra cube of pork. The guanciale appetizer was a bit of a waste of money, and with the low lighting it was difficult to see it was guanciale crumbles over a thick slice of toast (we had thought the toast was a hunk of bacon). Braised rabbit was good, but nothing special I felt. The lighting again made it difficult to tell what was rabbit and what was gnocchi. read more

I've been a few times now, but most recently I got the pork chop (I've never really liked pork chops) and it was amazing. The sauce over the top completes everything and the depth of the flavors sets this restaurant apart. Drinks are outstanding as well. read more

Hawthorne & Wood - New American Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

I came here with a friend on a Friday evening for dinner. We had made reservations and were promptly seated. They sat us in the backroom next to the kitchen instead of the main dining room, which was very odd. I thought the main dining room had a great ambiance, but the backroom had a cold and deserted ambiance. As for the menu, they had limited selection of entrees and they rotate based on the seasons. If you are looking at prior menu photos from other Yelpers, be aware that the menu options have likely changed. When I went, the entree options were vegetarian, scallops, pork, and lamb. I was hoping for a beef or duck option, although I settled for the pork. The pork was very flavorful and a decent portion size. We ordered the General Tso's cauliflower for our appetizer. It was highly recommended to us by multiple people. The seasoning/sauce they add on top of the cauliflower was amazing and the cauliflower itself was fried so that it had a decent crunch. I'd say it's a great dupe for General Tso's Chicken although not as great as having the actual chicken. Overall, I would not order the pork and General Tso's cauliflower again. They were flavorful dishes although they are not something I'd seek out again. I would only return here the next time their menu changes to try a duck or beef dish. read more

Hawthorne & Wood - Pork - New American Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Excellent meal this evening. We started with the potato soup and the pork belly appetizer. Both were perfectly balanced and tasty. Our apertifs were a glass of Luksosava (Polish vodka) and an Aperol mix spritzer. Our main courses were the Rabbit Gnocchi and the Beef Tenderloin with a peppercorn jus. Both were hearty and flavorful. We paired our meals with a glass of a Spanish wine and a glass of Malbec. Dessert was a key lime mousse that was a perfect light ending to our meal. We will definitely return to dine here again. read more

Hawthorne & Wood - Menu this evening - New American Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Very lovely food. I like starting a meal with a salad and the "little gem lettuce" salad was enormous and pleasing. The pork chop was enormous! and really lovely seasoned with some peaches on it, of all things! I needed a little box for it to eat later on. The place was pretty full, but service was attentive. read more

Hawthorne & Wood - Pork chop with pickled peaches - New American Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Recommended to me as one of the top new restaurants in the Triangle and did not disappoint. A good experience with good food. Friendly, professional service and the restaurant itself is a very nice layout (smaller rooms that keep the noise manageable). Nice cocktail and wine list, particularly good selection of wines by the glass. I started with the tuna crudo, which was excellent and had many excellent and distinct flavors. Same can be said of my main, the scalllops, which were a very nice sized portion of excellent scallops, again with competing yet complimentary flavors. An excellent experience. read more

Hawthorne & Wood - Scallops - New American Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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You might miss this little jewel as it is isn't advertised from the street. You will notice the awesome outdoor seating area complete with couches and comfy chairs. I love every little thing about H&W, from the cozy bar to the dining area to the wonderful waitstaff and bartender to the fun, ever-changing menu to the incredible cocktails and desserts. This is the kind of place that's perfect for a date, catching up with friends, a business dinner, or a celebration. You must try the flounder and the General Tso's cauliflower. However, you can't go wrong. Everything is always delicious. We enjoy ordering lots of shareables. Staff will also split entrees if you choose to share. Highly recommend. read more

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So we have now been frequenting this restaurant for about the last 5 months or so. We have been here more times than I should admit to in writing, so let's just say they know us.............. To the point: Killer Team, Awesome Food and Super Cool Ambiance Details: This group operates like a perfect piece of machinery. Everyone has their role, but no one is limited to that role. Behind the bar you will likely find Conner or Tim. However, depending on the night you might chat with Maggie or Aaron. They all are amazing, but unique at the same time. If you make the right choice, as we do, to sit at the bar; I can promise the conversation is second to none. Speaking of second to none, the food is just insane here. Chef has a rotating menu, so you have to take advantage of the item when it is on the menu. My personal fav is the pork shoulder. However, there is nothing bad on the menu. Oh, and don't miss out on the burger. Simple, but just plain darn good. The whole staff is just amazing here. Neil, the GM, has done a great job of building an exceptional team. Keep up the excellent customer experience Hawthorne team! I am sure we will see you some time this week! ;-) read more

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Why would you not? Parking in easy. Service is excellent. Food has always been outstanding. I don't know why I have not left a review earlier. This place has always been my go-to ... love on many plates. The pace of eating has a vibe of eating on your leisure. The offerings have always been spot on seasonal. Go. read more

bone-dry boring they were the most promising restaurant when they opened. they have not been able renew themselves and come up with new exciting dishes. the high cost of dining there is no longer justified. and I am not happy at all to give this place such a negative review read more

Excellent dining experience! The ambiance is chic upscale casual befitting the outstanding food. Service is friendly, yet very professional. Every dish we tried was exceptional. This is a terrific place for a very nice dinner with friends or business. read more

Delicious and awesome place. Worth the wait to prebook reservations a week ahead for a weekend spot. Waiter was very knowledgeable and made great recommendations for starters to feed our party of 4. Everything looked and tasted amazing and fresh - opened my palate to different flavor combinations in the yellowfin tuna with nam pla, watermelon and avocado. I hardly ever like chilled soup but the English pea was creamy and refreshing for a humid summer night. The crab tasted a bit more fishy than I would have liked but it was good. The flounder coconut lemongrass was the best. Fish was of nice size and I could lick that sauce - light creamy coconut lemongrass flavor. read more

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a classy experience can't say I am the biggest fan of american food, but this place was the whole package. upscale décor, excellent service. server gave us thorogh and informative recommendations on what to go for. we started off with the arancini which was 6 bit sized pieces topped a generous portion of fresh parmesan. we then shared a little gem salad which they divided into two plates for us without asking - ended up being a being a very large serving! super refreshing. for the mains, we got the flounder which was tender (though a little crispier than how I like it) over a nice bed of snap peas, rice, and coconut sauce. we also got the pork chop which was HUGE and served with a refreshing tangerine salad. the sauce was a little bit sour for my taste but the meat was perfectly cooked. this is a great spot for a celebration or just a classy night out. PSA: the entrees are actually quite big, two is enough for two people even without the first course/bar snacks. read more

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Came here looking for something new to try in Chapel Hill, as usually hubby and I have to go to Durham or Raleigh for date night. We were so glad we did! We started with the general tso's cauliflower, which was pretty good for being cauliflower. Hubby had the porkchop and I had the tenderloin. Everything was so flavorful and perfectly cooked. But what REALLY stood out to us and made the experience amazing was the service! I've not had service like this anywhere in Chapel Hill. Even though we were a few minutes late for our reservation, we were still sat right away. As we walked in, EVERY person that walked by us welcomed us. Our server, Maggie, was super knowledgable about the menu and drinks and gave recommendations. She also was very attentive, but not overbearing. We were also celebrating a late anniversary, and she congratulated us as well as brought a little chocolate mousse desert on the house. The ambiance is also worth noting, with dim lighting and good music. All in all, DEFINITELY 5 stars and we will be back! read more

Hawthorne & Wood - General tso's cauliflower - New American Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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What an amazing dinner experience at Hawthorne and Wood. If you're in the Chapel Hill, NC area, this fine dining restaurant is a must! The ambience and restaurant decor is a vibe. It's swanky and modern. Lighting and restaurant colors were perfect! We started with a variety of appetizers which were shared amongst three of us. They not only look beautiful but they taste amazing, too. Apps: black truffle arancini, lamb tartare, gem lettuce, and corn soup. Mains: gnocchi, tenderloin and bass. All delicious! Service: Our server Scott and host Mike were friendly and informative. They were detailed when explaining the menu and helped us make the right choices. I will definitely be back and highly recommend this fine dining establishment. read more

Hawthorne & Wood - Classic Margarita on the rocks with salt. - New American Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Had an incredible meal here; ordered the scallops dish with an acorn squash puree and the scallops were cooked perfectly. The cocktails are also excellent. read more

I chose to celebrate my 50th birthday here with my husband last night. This was on a Thursday night and we still couldn't get a reservation earlier than 8:00 p.m., so make sure you make reservations if you want to eat here! We have been a few times before and had good experiences. Arrived a few minutes early and were seated at a cocktail table with couch while they finished preparing our table. We ordered drinks and were escorted to our dining table before we received them, but they were quickly served to us once we were seated. The restaurant decor and ambiance is really nice, but I will say that the tables are pretty close together and it's a little dark (or I'm just getting old!). We sat inside, but they do have a nice outdoor seating area. Our table was directly under the A/C vent, so it was pretty chilly, but Mike, who I assume was a manager, noticed from my body language that I was cold, so he was very proactive and came over to let me know that he was going to take care of it. Points scored for Mike! I ordered a glass of the French Chardonnay (I only like unoaked) and my husband ordered the Paper Plane cocktail. He wasn't a fan of it due to its overly "lemony" taste, so our server happily switched it out for an old fashioned, which the hubby said was very good. On to the food! We ordered the pork belly and the Chilled N. Carolina crab for our starters. They were both really, really good. I would order them again in a heartbeat. It took a little longer than expected for our entrees to arrive, but it was actually okay because we were just enjoying being there. I had the flounder with jasmine rice and the hubs ordered the seared new Bedford scallops. He said that his scallops were quite possibly the best meal he has ever had, and we have eaten at some pretty superb restaurants! My flounder was on point as well. I have had it there before and the fact that I ordered it again should serve as evidence that it's fantastic. I feel like the price point here is appropriate for the experience. The only drawback for me was that there was no acknowledgement of the special occasion that we were celebrating (except for by the hostess). Usually nicer restaurants will do a little something, especially when you indicate on the reservation that you are there to celebrate. I considered taking a star away for that, but thought that it would be petty. I won't lie though, it was a bit disappointing. Fifty is a big milestone! Bottom line....this is one of our favorite restaurants. read more

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We were staying at the hotel around the corner from here and really wanted to try this place. They had great reviews and they took over the spot where our favorite indian spot used to be. They have a different three-course dinner available every night and they often sell out. Sometimes before they even open! I checked the menu early one day and decided we had to try the filet mignon dinner. We thought we'd start with the beet salad and then we both ordered the three course dinner. It came with brussels sprouts, potatoes, soup and dessert. I have a nut allergy, so I put in the notes that I needed the dessert sans nuts or an alternative. The order was ready right on time and we went back to the hotel to enjoy. I started with the soup and it was DELICIOUS--so so good. The beet salad was really good, but the portion was pretty meager. Then, I opened up the main course and was immediately disappointed. The size of the filet was an ok portion, but there were hardly any potatoes and I'm not exaggerating when I say 1.5 brussels sprouts...literally 3 half pieces. Really? The morsels tasted good, but the serving should have been labeled as a garnish. The potatoes were a layered dish and were really good, but again a small portion. The star of the dish was definitely the filet mignon--it was cooked perfectly. Slightly cold, but I really appreciate a perfectly cooked piece of meat. They either didn't see or didn't care about the allergy note, so I wasn't able to eat the dessert. The to-go containers are not made for eating steaks. Unfortunately, we were eating from the hotel room, so we did not have the luxury to transfer it to plates, so when we cut into the meat, it cut through the container and the juices went all over the place. They also did not include any plastic wear or napkins, so we had to get some from the front desk. The kicker is that my hubby went over and dined in for dinner there by himself. He ordered the three-course dinner of the day and all the portions were way more generous. That's BS!! If you're going to offer take-out, it should be the same as if you were dining in the restaurant. The steak was really really good, so I'm tempted to just dine-in next time, but it irks me that the take out experience was not on the level. My hubby said his dine-in experience was good and the drinks were delicious. He would give his dine-in experience 4 stars. I think they're good, so you should give them a shot, but only if you are dining in. read more

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EAT HERE! Went to H&W for my anniversary. Staff were superb. They were attentive, knowledgeable and knew when to be scarce and be available. The food was superb- best pork chop I have had. My wife loved the wine as well. Every aspect of the food has been thought out and crafted. The decor is romantic and classy. Great date night restaurant. read more