In short, I enjoyed the atmosphere and out server was great, but the food was mediocre overall. I came here for my father's birthday since we happened to be in the Framingham/Natick area. I had been here several years ago and they're in the process of renovating so it's different than what I remember. We were seated in this cafe area to the right, which I assume is relatively new. It's a smaller dining area with an open kitchen and a more intimate atmosphere. It was very comfortable and not too crowded when we arrived. Our server Angelina was wonderful. She was very attentive with refilling water and taking plates. These two reasons are why I'm giving this a 3 star review and not 2 as the food left much to be desired. I will say I liked the onion bread. It was soft and the onion flavor wasn't overwhelming. Everything else though...meh. I ordered the prime cut sirloin with a Caesar salad and butternut squash. Angelina informed me their Caesar salad comes with red peppers (who does that?) so I opted to get the salad without peppers. The salad was average. Not much to say about that. The sirloin was underwhelming considering it's a steakhouse. The outside of my steak was really fatty so I ended up cutting off a lot and not eating it. The meat that I did eat was okay. Not worth the $36 price tag though. I could get something just as good or better from another restaurant at half price. The butternut squash was also just okay. It was kinda mushy like baby food which I didn't particularly like but it was still palatable. My father did get a free dessert with a candle on the house for his birthday which was nice. He got pecan pie and I ordered "dark rum" creme brulee for myself. Note the quotation marks as this was the blandest creme brulee I've ever had. I didn't think it was possible to mess up creme brulee because it's so simple, but this restaurant somehow did. First of all, I tasted nothing close to the dark rum as was in the name. Secondly, the crust, the most important part, was very thin and not correctly caramelized. It was either barely there or burned, and not in a good way. Thirdly, it was covered in whipped cream, which struck me as odd. A dollop of whipped cream and some fruit would have been perfectly fine, but the top was covered in it and just felt unnecessary. Actually the whipped cream and the custard tasted more or less the same, just different viscosities. I never thought I'd be typing an impassioned review of creme brulee online, but there's a first time for everything I guess. I'd be willing to give this place another shot, but if I do I'm opting for something other than steak and getting a different side. read more

At one time it must have been a good steak house. We go back about once a year and always leave disappointed. For a good steak go to the Coach Grill, Wayland or Smith and Wolinski's in Wellesley read more

Don Draper would feel very much at home here. Bricks and dark panelling on the walls. Wood beams on the ceiling. Wrought iron light chandeliers. Thick heavy gilded frames on oil paintings. Kens was old school before old school became a cliche. Went to a group dinner tonight, in the rear private room. We had an entree choice of prime rib, chicken parm, or salmon. I went for the salmon and wished I didn't -it was overcooked and dry --yucko! The prime rib looked like a rare bloody mess. The chicken parm was the clear winner at our table. We've had buffet dinners here many times and the food quality certainly was better than what I saw tonight. Ken's has been around forever, and the main dining room was packed. I'll give them 3 stars for their reputation and longevity........... read more

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Nice ambience, rather unadventurous (and overpriced) menu. The food was okay but not memorable. Our waiter actually spilled a berry cocktail on my pants - glad I was wearing black. read more

The port chops are SALTY!!!! Thursday special. I asked about it and the chef said he wouldn't put salt on it. It must be brined in it. Too salty. Menu hasn't changed in a long time. Added a huge steak for $90 is all. I go for the nice bar seats. read more

This place sets the benchmark for what a steakhouse should be. Impeccable service, live music, and great value. If not for the woman beautifully singing Lady Gaga hits in the bar, I would've felt like i walked back in time. I had a classic iceberg lettuce wedge salad tonight. And you know what, it was to die for, especially with that beautiful creamy blue cheese dressing. The Delmonico steak couldn't have been cooked any better. Believe this: A side -- a big side -- of the best mushroom risotto. Ken's Steakhouse is old; it's dated; but it's the best and it shouldn't change a goddamn thing. Oh yeah, try the meatballs. They'll make you wet your pants. Kudos to you Ken, kudos to you. The world is better with you in it. read more

Coming here on a Tuesday night, the place was largely empty, as I was hoping it would be as a party of one. I received my onion bread and whipped butter near immediately by server Julie, a wonderful person of the highest magnitude. Service was excellent. I ordered the fried calamari as a starter, and it was plenty, fresh, crispy, and delicious. I usually do not like the yellow peppers or cherry tomatoes, but they were a welcome presence here. I contemplated ordering a Caesar salad, but one came with the meal. I was curious if it came with anchovies, but it did not. As it was, it was plated very picturesque. I mulled over which steak to order, but I ended up with a queen cut Prime Rib cooked medium with a side of horseradish and the cream variant. It was the right temperature for steak, which is warm, for those that do not know. The au jus was perfect. As a side I ordered the brussel sprouts. They were flavored well, but perhaps a little too overcaramelized for my liking. My drink of lemonade was refilled often, and I was more than pleased with my time here. I had wanted to come here for many years, and after seeing the Yelp ratings, I was less than confident about my nights decision, but I walked away more than impressed. This restaurant is a classic American steakhouse, no frills, and was somewhat refreshing because in this modern age, establishments want to change and be hipster and new. No, this place is as classic as it gets. I understand that peoples experiences may vary, especially on a busier night but I was not let down. read more

It had been many years (maybe 20) that I had eaten at Ken's Steak House and as such on a whim decided on lunch. I really do not recall what the restaurant looked like back in the day but it just felt different when I entered the restaurant. Not different in necessarily a bad way but appeared clean and we were seated promptly. There were a number of seating locations including a lounge with bar and the main dining room I guess. We chose the main dining room and for a restaurant that has so much history, I was surprised how cold and stark this room appeared. It really felt like we were dining in a hotel conference room. The floor was this faux wood laminate and the chairs and tables just were very conference room appearing. There were a couple lamp posts placed around the room. The room has some stained glass windows and I thought maybe black and white photos of the history the restaurant placed on the walls per perhaps something to break up the starkness of this room. Anyways, I'm no designer but I think there were some missed opportunities to make this space feel a bit less conference room. Regardless, the food... I had a turkey club which really was a turkey sandwich w/ toasted bread. It was forgettable but the sweet potato fries were perfectly cooked with just the right amount of crisp. Oh, forgot the calimari, a bit bland and again forgettable but not bad. We also had a cheeseburger which has great char and a really nice flavor. Just a good ole fashioned cheeseburger and again excellent steak fries. All and all not a bad lunch. The service was what I would expect, not at all great and again kind of forgettable. Would I return for lunch, I'm kind of on the fence as it's been 20+ years that I have eaten here and in that time never really felt like I was missing out on something despite this was the go to place for decades. It was the place my parents would get all gussied up for a night out. Decades ago when the Chateux De Ville was hopping and couples would dress to the nines for a night out enjoying steaks and gimlets. I know this restaurant is a hold out from a different time and for that I am grateful that it still exists. read more

Kens has a great outdoor set up for COVID, made me feel very comfortable eating here, and maintained excellent service even with the outdoor set up. The food is delicious, and for the quality is not outrageously expensive - a great meal in a great atmosphere. read more

Excellent food and service. Love the atmosphere and the wood and stained glass. My huband had the steak and I had the chicken parmesan dish. Both were delicious. After dinner, we ended up going to the lounge for some after-dinner drinks and listened to the live music. It was top-notch. We'll definitely be going back again. read more

Eating here was awful. The service in the bar area was beyond terrible. They really needed another 2 waitresses. We sat down Saturday at 8p and we waited 30 minutes before we even received a menu. Another 20 min before we ordered a drink. When the drinks came we immediately ordered dinner because we knew if we didn't we would be there a very long time. After receiving dinner, I could not believe a hamburger at a steak restaurant could be so well-done. I asked for another hamburger cooked medium rare as I ordered, but after waiting 10 minutes, we just decided to get the check for our drinks and leave. Wouldn't you know like 2-3 waiters came over immediately and removed the salad and french fries as they wanted to make sure we didn't eat. Definitely a disaster and will never return. Btw, this is my second yelp review. read more

This was our first time ever eating at Ken's steak house named for the famous salad dressing. I highly recommend making a reservation if in a weekend...we were able to get a seat in the bar which also had live entertainment that was very good. It's a very cozy atmosphere. We sat at a high top table which was unfortunately by a door that people kept going in & out of so we kept getting the draft from outside so keep that in mind when choosing a seat. The bar seating is first come first served & I personally would have preferred a low top table. They do have e a good amount of seat in the bar & there are also several other dining areas but again reservations recommended if visiting on a weekend. I didn't care for the onions in the butter with the rolls, that came as a surprise to me (I'm a plain bread & butter type of gal) but my husband loved it. I prefer my steak to be seasoned which to me there was not a lot of seasoning or flavoring just the taste if plain steak but again my husband loved it. I prefer a longhorn or Texas Roadhouse type steak myself. No really small steaks so I had to order a 12oz & the prices definitely reflect that it's a fancier restaurant not a chain. The butternut squash was delicious but I personally wouldn't rush back here again. It's not that it wasn't good I would just say not my style of steak restaurant. My husband loved everything about it & would definitely return again. Thinking it may be more appealing to men with the sizing of the steaks than women. Maybe I would try something different next time. read more

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While a local institution, it could use a bit a a refresh. I think a little touch up of the interior decor - nothing major, mind, you, but just something to update it just a bit to get a fresh look. I would also add a few items to the menu, such as a two or three chicken dishes Any restaurant that has been in business five years must be doing something right. Been around ten, fifteen years? No question you have to be a great place. What about one that's been around since 1935? Yes, I said 1935! That means they've been getting this not just right, but above and beyond for generations! This is, and has been, a family run business since it opened. I visited this past weekend for the first time in quite some time (I don't live near by so I only go here when I'm in the area), and I'm glad to say the meal didn't surprise me. I've come to expect certain things from Ken's - great service and food - and I got what I expected and they didn't disappoint! I got Ken's Sirloin (New York Style) with the Mashed Potatoes. I was in Steak Heaven. It was a fabulous steak and the mashed are equally heavenly! My salad was Ken's House. My wife got the baked stuffed shrimp with a baked potato (loaded), and for the salad she got the Caesar. The shrimp was tasty as was her salad. Our waitress was the epitome of a great waitress. She was friendly, professional, knowledgable and attentive without being overbearing. She should given lessons to other waitresses! There are a few minor, but yet important, items that in my opinion, should be improved. They certainly are the items that prevented me from giving them Five Stars. First, Ken's House Salad consisted mostly of lettuce. It had two wedges of tomato, and couple of onions. Nothing else. No cucumbers, no anything else. While included with your meal, you can get it separately for $7.00. For that kind of money, you need to give customers more than a plate full of lettuce. The baked potato itself is good. Nice size, and cooked well. The "fixings" need a little work. It was very salty, probably too salty for most peoples taste, and the bacon was not a good quality bacon and had a bit of an odd taste. That being said, it was a four star meal with five star service! I would advise them though to be cautious about keeping the status quo and alway keep looking forward; update your look, not so much to change your iconic status, but enough to be freshened and up-to-date. read more

Gave me food poisoning. Now I'm vegetarian. I literally have not touched meat since I have been to this place

A family favorite of ours! I grew up just down the road from Ken's and have been going for many, many years. The Framingham/Natick area is flooded with chain restaurants so it's nice to have a local place like Ken's on route 9. I typically always get the Ken's sirloin and change up the side (it also comes with a salad topped with the famous Ken's dressing). My favorite side to get is the Brussels sprouts...mmmmm they are tasty! Reservations are accepted, however we've never had to wait too too long for a table without one. Portions are big and a good value. We always leave feeling satisided and full! read more

Ken's Steakhouse - Steak and brussels sprouts - Steakhouses Near Me - Framingham, Massachusetts

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My family went to celebrate my parents 40th anniversary. We saw 3 mice during our dinner running right across the dinning room. We informed the waiter to tell the manager. Our family has been going for years for special occasions. It use to be a 1st class restaurant where they paid attention to details now they don't we won't be back. read more

All around a disappointing display of food. Our server was great, but the quality of the food was poor through out the meal. The French onion soup was burnt and one of them was obvious scraped off and had a new piece of cheese put on. The bacon scallops were also overcooked. The steaks were over cooked, the salmon was dry and the jumbo shrimp must have been a typo, see picture below. I wish I would have been able to tell the chef how poor everything was. read more

Came with a friend because The Melting Pot was booked for the night :-P We thought to try this icon of a place... First, this place is LARGE. You can definitely have a large function/party here if you need one. It looks more like a sports bar than a steak house. I thought the food was fine, service was fine, cleanliness was fine- nothing to totally rave about, but nothing to complain about. The prices are fair. I got the sirloin with mashed potatoes and added an extra side of butternut squash... So I am every steak house's worst nightmare and I order it leather aka well done. Sorry, that's just how I like it ! :X I don't mind a little pink, but beyond that, I can't deal with the look or texture. So yes, I exchange juicy, tender texture for leather...but I have to say this place even makes well done steaks juicy. So there's that :) The potatoes were creamy and full of yum. The butternut squash is full of cinnamon deliciousness. Of course I can't leave out the caesar salad with KEN'S caesar dressing... If I find myself in Framingham in need of a place to eat that's NOT Melting Pot or Chick Fil A, I would come back :) read more

Okay... I never give 5 stars to a restaurant that I've only been to once but they deserve it. Full disclosure, this is based off one visit (my first time there) and it was take out, not dine in. Their porterhouse burger is hands down the best burger I've ever had. I love getting burgers for dinner because I never make them at home..and this by far was the juiciest, best tasting patty. I shouldn't even call this a patty because it was THICK and a legit MEAL! There's zero chance this was ever frozen and it was more like a perfect cloud of meat served between a fresh baked roll. Honorable mention goes to the crispy steak fries served with it too. Yum You catch my drift right...this thing was delicious and I'll be back for another! Thank you, Ken's The end read more

Had a very enjoyable meal at Ken's a few nights ago. Nice lounge and bar. We sat at the bar, had prime rib and a Ken's sirloin. Both were very good. Loved that the meals came with 2 sides because it's annoying when you order a steak at certain places and all you get is the steak, you end up paying another $20 for a salad and vegetable, not at Ken's. Some people here complain that Ken's is too "old school". We loved the atmosphere, every other place you go to now is very generic, can't tell one from the other & the help all have the same rehearsed lines. GOOD FOOD WITHOUT THE SCHTICK. Our bartender Kevin made a fantastic martini by the way. Recommend having dinner in the lounge, very enjoyable. We'll be back soon. So refreshing. read more

Our favorite local steakhouse. Pleasant staff and as usual the filet mignon was excellent! read more

Ken's Steakhouse - Steakhouses Near Me - Framingham, Massachusetts

We had dinner here for the first time since moving to mass. Over all it was great. We ordered our steaks med rare but they came out medium. Not a deal breaker but a little disappointing. The service and sides were spot on. Will definitely go back but will be wary of the cooking temp. read more

Attended a luncheon at Ken's. The atmosphere is good, but i was not impressed by the food. They put out a cheese and fruit board and the cheese looked like the chunks from a bag and fruit did not look fresh. The salad came and was very plain. I ordered the steak which seemed more like roast beef to me. I know my grandmother would love this place, but it was just not my taste. read more

Ken's Steakhouse - My sad salad :( - Steakhouses Near Me - Framingham, Massachusetts

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Please do yourself a favor and check out this incredible relic of the past. I love Ken's, I've been going here for years and my mom grew up going here every Sunday so it's special to me. The menu is super simple and straight to the point. Their drink menu is the same. The New England chowder is authentic and creamy, totally worth it. Of course you need to get a salad too since it is the home of Kens dressing. I got the filet minion with a baked potato. I ordered it medium rare and it was perfectly cooked. Honestly this place is special and it's worth the drive out from the city. Food wise this is pretty close to significantly more expensive steak houses in the city. read more

Ken's Steakhouse - Iconic sign - Steakhouses Near Me - Framingham, Massachusetts

Food was okay and the staff was friendly and attentive. The carpet had a weird strong smell, like... wet dog. I believe that if you choose to have carpet on every inch of the restaurant the least you can do is make sure it's very clean. read more

I like there food ALot I felt the staff rushed my wife and me , as of three times we've been to Ken. Please calm down owner/staff so we are not rushed, and can enjoy our meal. We met other customers with same problem. I will tip great, if my wife and I have time to enjoy. It was a Saturday night prior to Mother's day. Thank you Ken's, but please give ur customers time to enjoy. Bruce and Malika We've love to come in the future! read more

We decided to opt for the prime meat section of the restaurant. So sorry! My husband's steak was dry and hard to chew. Waitress offered another try at it ---no difference, dry and very chewy. Salad was just okay. My lamb chops also were dry and chewy. I didn't send them back, but I should have. Service was very good--waitress helped as best she could. We took the second steak home and will slice it cold into a salad. All in all a terrible disappointment, especially from the prime section. Sorry, won't return. read more

Never again. Walking in the employees all looked at us- like we didn't belong. That was uncomfortable to begin with. Ordered a BOTTLE of wine- and it CLEARLY was open.(like a glass missing- and the top wasn't sealed) and the waitress acted as nothing- we literally were looking like umm that a 1/2 bottle of wine. Food was bland. No flavor at all whatsoever. And they kind of stuck us in a corner; just wasn't a pleasant experience. I would give 0 stars if it was an option. read more

After a punishing morning of Black Friday shopping, we went there for lunch. I hadn't been there in years. I decided to try a "french dip" Never had one. Holy au jus bat man, what a great taste.. I had french onion soup before. Again, absolutely scrumptious. My wife had the chicken saltimbocca.. I was glad there was leftovers. Can't wait to go back again.. read more

Hadn't been here in almost 30 years and to be frank I wouldn't be I a hurry to return although it wasn't bad or awful, it just wasn't worthy of a return. I will say it's one of the least friendly or warm and fuzzy glad you're here places I've ever been to. Tepid clam chowder with plenty of (pretty sure they were clams but not positive) and just a different taste. I'm ok with different. Sirloin steak that was cooked to perfection but had more fat and gristle than you would expect from for instance a decent to good steakhouse. On some parts of the steak the seasoning / flavor was really good. On the majority of the steak......not so much. Confession - it occurred to me that the Bleu cheese dressing might be the shitty bottle crap....it wasn't and it was actually pretty good. I do resent paying the price they charged for the, no more than a 1/4 of a puny head of iceberg lettuce. The one and only time I saw my server was getting her attention as she scurried by to ask if they had any bread. The bread is pretty good albeit room temperature. Value wise it was in line with the quality of a steakhouse meal half the price of Ken's. I walked right by the server, the man I would presume to be a manager or owner and then a host and a hostess. Know what they said to me as I made my way out? Not a thing, read more

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They really need to stick to dressing. If you want a decent steak, you'll be disappointed. From the sad appetizers to the woefully overcooked steaks, it's just not a great experience. But if you like your steaks rubbery, then you're in luck. Our server was delightful, though he seemed particularly perplexed when we showed him our overcooked steaks. Maybe that's how they roll at Ken's. We believe the brand should stick to their core strength: salad dressing. I'm pretty sure we're not returning any time soon. read more

The drinks are top notch. That's all the good I have to say about kens. Will go the way hilltop eventually. Steaks don't have the crusts and toppings that make the higher end steakhouses good. Recommendation- go to wegmans and get a $20/lb prime steak. Salt and pepper it... and you'll have a better meal for less money. read more

OK food but not spectacular. What is NOT acceptable is using online ordering to reduce the burden on staff and rewarding the customer with a $1.95 fee for use of the online ordering system. This is not imposed on Ken's; it a choice in how they set up on-line ordering to sneakily shift part of their cost of operations onto the customer. read more

When we had the opportunity to visit recently, I had low expectations based on memories of 15-20 years ago. I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was! Since then, we have been back many times and every time, the food was consistently great, reasonably priced and the server and atmosphere wonderful. We also re-introduced some of our friends to Ken's with the same reaction. I would encourage anyone to try it out - you will not be disappointed! read more

In a word "Sad". My husband and I started discussing best and worst experiences and Kens Steak house was the single worst dining experience that we've had in the last ten years. We went there about 5 years ago on a recommendation to try the new room. It was supposed to be a refresh from the old, well known but padestrian Kens. The entire experience was sad. Food and service completely dissappointing. Very memorable in the worst way. read more

I've been coming here since I was knee-high to a grasshopper and have MANY fond memories of eating lunch here with my dear Grandmother and Mom in the "stained glass room" over the years (1970's & 80's). So when I began going again a few years ago, the new experiences I had were bittersweet. PROS: One of the few "old fashioned" places still around. Great if you're in the mood for a relaxed multi-course meal. Love their world famous salad with Ken's Italian dressing! Tastes better here than at home for some reason. :) CONS: As of August 2014, there's a new Lunch Menu with higher prices, one less side, and NO salad included, so the value has gone WAY down, in my opinion. Also, twice, I ordered my chopped sirloin medium-rare and twice received it medium-well. Not being able to cook meat to order does not bode well for a steakhouse. (Sigh). The service has been sketchy at lunchtime, too. My experiences at dinner have been better than at lunch, so I will give them another shot and let you know how it goes. read more

Ken's Steakhouse - Chopped Sirloin lunch entree, served with choice of veg and potato (squash and mashed here). - Steakhouses Near Me - Framingham, Massachusetts

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The place is old and the interior dated, but the food is still great and a really good value for lunch. For $14 for lunch, I ordered the scrod which came with a side salad, one side and a basket of rolls. read more

Let's get the decor out of the way upfront: it looks like the Ground Round circa 1970. Max. In our dining room was dark paneling, dark leather woven chairs, like Ren Faire meets Mingles Lounge. But you know what? This place scored pretty well: The service was excellent. Our server was kind, attentive, friendly, and catered to our needs very actively. As I looked around, I saw other servers doing the same for their tables. It felt very relaxed. The portion sizes are unbelievable. Everything we ordered had to be boxed at the end, because we just couldn't eat it all. There's no way one human can eat one of their dishes alone! Every dinner comes with a salad...and Ken's salad dressing. The kind you can buy at the grocery store. It's THAT Ken's Steak House dressing. The chicken parm was soft inside, crispy outside, and not overly salty. The steak was fine, and the sides were totally good. I ate a better meal in so many respects than I have eaten in other places that serve similar fare. If you can get over the décor, I think you'd have a pleasant experience here. You'll eat reasonably-priced dinner food and drink whatever you want, and it will be fine. If you're looking for a place that you can safely take your mother or grandfather, or your spouse (probably not a date, though, unless you're hipsters) after a long day of shopping, this is your joint. Getting into the establishment and back out again will both require you to be facing Route 9 in a westerly direction, so if you're trying to get back east afterward, it will require you to turn around down the road. read more

We had never been to Kens, but it was on my bucket list and we found ourselves staying overnight in Natick, so we went to give them a try. We arrived at 1010pm, they are open until 11, so we had plenty of time to have a steak. At first impression, we noticed the whole interior smelled badly. Mildew. Sewage. I don't know what. We went to the hostess station and we were rudely informed that the dining room was closed and we would have to sit in the bar. A really bad band was playing too loud in the bar, but we sat anyway, because we had worked all day and were ready to just relax and have a meal. Waitress arrived and took our drink order, then she came back shortly after that and said she didn't feel comfortable serving us because we seemed drunk to her. Neither of us had had a drink all day long, but that was the final straw. 5 minutes spent at Ken's was enough to realize it's a horrible establishment. I am glad we didn't spend any money there. Avoid at all costs, this place sucks. read more

Stars for the great deal and good seafood! If you like lobster, come here on Mondays before the lobster market price goes back up!!!!! You get hard shell 1 lb lobster for 9.99 plus two sides. For 2.95 more, you can get a lobster bisque that has chunks of lobster claws in it. I'm gonna be here every Monday till this promotion is off the menu! Tho the menu say 1 lb lobster, it's actually 1.25lb lobster. Anything under that is illegal to catch. Also another minor detail I noticed, the server didn't give us any lemon wedges for Fried Oyster and Calamari Frittes appetizers nor for the lobster. These special appetizers were yummy as well. Very generous portion and not greasy. The oyster varied in size. Calamari rings were tender. It's not seasoned batter just the way I like it. The service was standard. Server was a bit busy since it seems like everyone was there for the lobster. Kept him rolling for sure!! I shall say this tho, their service is not on par with the dinner menu prices. I'm not paying those prices, so I'm not going to bitch! I admit that it is kinda weird to go to a steak house for seafood dinner. I recommend to call ahead to make sure the deal is still valid before stopping in. read more

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