Just visited this evening after work and let me tell you, I WILL BE BACK! The food is super yummy (check out the pictures if you don't believe me) and the drinks are potent and help you relax after a long work week. I had the skinny mango mojito and it had a nice kick. The only cons are it's a little pricey--I went at 4:30 on a Friday. It would be nice to have a happy hour. Also, the service was just okay. We goofed and didn't realize the place didn't open until 4:30. We got there at 4:28 to try to open the door and it was locked. We waited outside and tried the door at 4:31 and like magic it was open. The ladies saw us by the door. It would have been nice if they let us know they unlocked it versus us standing outside in the chilly weather. Even with the okay service, I'll go back because the queso, jalapeno cornbread and lime chicken are worth it! read more

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The food is amazing and the guac specifically is so so so good. The restaurant decor is so cute and I loved the playlist the last time I went! There's outdoor and indoor dining, outdoor is better depending on the weather of course. read more

Came to Luna Maya for my husbands birthday dinner. We were seated quickly and had a friendly greeting from our waitress. My food came out a few minutes after ordering which I thought was fine if it was under a heater because it was still made recently. We were waiting for a long time and our waitress would walk in the room to talk to the other tables but would only glance at ours. My food was cold by the time she asked if I wanted a box for my untouched plate. I was getting really upset at this point because why would I not touch my food at all and leave without my husband getting any? After that it just got worse. She came back and said an apology about an error in the kitchen. She would not talk to us the 2 other times she stopped by to drop the check off and take the plates. Honestly I would have felt better if she tried to make it better instead of completely ignoring us. I don't know if she thought since it was so messed up by this point that we wouldn't tip so she shouldn't try anymore or what. For most of the time we were ignored, I also don't know if that's because we're young or we were just a party of 2. The food was okay, definitely would've been better at mi lindos for a portion of the price. I definitely would never go again. read more

Love happy hour here! LOVE love love the spicy margaritas! Food is excellent as well as the desserts. Highly recommend!!! read more

I picked this place for a family graduation celebration. The staff was so super accommodating and placed us in the party room. We were able to bring our own decorations and they even refrigerated the dessert I brought. The tamales were delicious and the decor was delightful. read more

Luna Maya - Tamales Luna Maya - Mexican Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Excellent Mexican restaurant in a fun part of Norfolk. I was here with a group of friends, and we had an amazing meal. We started with drinks, and the house cocktails are very tasty. I had the Luna Passion and one of the people in my party tried the Pisco Sour. We were very happy with our drinks. For dinner, I had the house special, Tamales Luna Maya, and they were delicious. The brisket with the sweet corn was a perfect combination of flavors. It was a very generous portion. Our server, Daniel, was very helpful with recommendations on the menu. It's a fun atmosphere--very festive. I definitely recommend going here read more

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Super cute little spot. Loved the ambiance and our waitress was really nice! The food was good. Loved the queso fundido. The pastel de choclo was different. I enjoyed the contrast of sweetness from the corn and the savory chorizo. The rum cake was a little on the sweet side but loved how warm and buttery it was. Would love to come back to try more dishes. read more

Great service and delicious food. Parking is easy. I have onion intolerance and the chef is always accommodating. Thank you!

We came in on a Friday evening and was serviced fairly quickly despite peak wait times. We grabbed a drink at the bar, closed out when we were called for seating, and sat a booth. Both bartender and server had an amazing interaction: quick, friendly, correct orders, checking in, and handling checks quickly. This is all I seek in perfect service. The place was packed but clean. Parking is a hassle, but I lucked out on street parking. It's dark AF in there, so I hope you've met your date in good lighting before meeting here. I was talked into the "deconstructed" tamale they have, and as long as you kindly remind yourself on the twist on this classic fare, it's actually pretty tasty. It's on the sweeter side thanks to the corn, so snag some hot sauce to mix with it. I believe I had the adobo pepper hot sauce because it was delicious but tasted of barbecue. The tender meat on the tamale was amazing. Service alone can bring me back in to try more things. Unfortunately the main entrees look a bit too hefty for me, and I wish they had smaller sizes; however, ordering off the appetizer options suffices. read more

I met some friends here for dinner on a Friday evening. I must admit I passed right by the restaurant because the windows were completely blacked out. It was also located right next to the outdoor patio of the adjoining restaurant so it was easily overlooked. Anyway, they sat me down immediately even though the place was very busy. Right away I fell in love with the lighting and decor. The restaurant was very spacious. The lighting was dim enough to give off an intimate ambience yet light enough to be able to see the menu and other decor. All the employees were dressed up (Halloween was a week away). Our server was super friendly and very knowledgeable about the menu and their food. I ended up ordering a Luna Passion cocktail which was super delicious. It was a mix of Svedka clementine, passion fruit, and grenadine. Everything looked so good on the menu. I opted for their Luna Maya Salad. This was a salad like no other...a huge pile of house made slaw accompanied with tomatoes, spicy cilantro lime shrimp and deliciously seasoned sliced avocado. This was a meal that was both beautiful and delicious. I loved it! My friends ordered a burrito of sort and they really loved it (this wasn't their first time coming)! I was very impressed with their decor and lighting. I very much enjoyed their food and drinks. We didn't have to wait at all for a booth. I can't wait to bring the family here! YOU MUST COME NOW! read more

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I don't typically like this restaurant but couldn't think of anywhere else to go with a friend last night. I haven't been in almost 4 years but oh my goodness!...I'm so glad we did! Jacob, the kween of the evening, was our server and did NOT disappoint. Completely on top of everything and an amazing server BUT also made the evening SO FUN! I've never had a server make me laugh so hard before. I wanted him to join our evening he was so evening. Thank you, Jacob!!!! read more

Steak was great, ambiance and staff are great as well. The only thing to improve was the peppers served as a side with the steak are way too hot spicy hot to eat as a side. I like spicy food but theses are so hot you can't taste anything after you take a bite of them because your mouth is burning, maybe just add one or two in addition to another type of pepper, over all everything was wonderful read more

This place is pretty decent. They make great guacamole & chips. Real chunks of avocado and home made salsa. We ordered it twice. It was delicious. Their brisket is a bit salty,definitely order the side of veggies; mushrooms, peppers & onions with that. Order it in a bowl if you want to get more meat. They do offer vegetarian & vegan selections but they don't have vegan dairy options. I wish they offered vegan cheese & sour cream- this would've made the dishes more flavorful and authentic. read more

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I've lived 5 blocks from the best Latin American contemporary restaurant and didn't even know it. Walking in you're surprised to reveal a very ambient and social eating area. Low music playing in the background send that chill mood through out the restaurant. We had the steak chimichurri, the sauce was very flavorful and the clarear was cooked to perfection. The guacamole wasn't very colorful, we ordered the spicy guac, it didn't have the regular tomato onions and lime juice. It also wasn't spicy (?) It wasn't terrible but I wouldn't order it next time. Our main courses were the vegan enchiladas I got one green and one red. The flavors were delicious, the rice and beans were seasoned on point. The Pique a la macho (spicy) version was filling, the heat was there but not miserably. The coleslaw deff balanced the spicy, so over all the main courses were a 9/10. They cook dishes from all over South America. read more

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Delicious food and sensual atmosphere! It's a great place for a meal with friends, family, or a date. I came here with coworkers for a weeknight dinner and the service was just right. We had drinks, appetizers, and dinner in 1.5 hrs. I got the Tamales Luna Maya which is apparently a house specialty. The corn was sweet and delicious, and the brisket was super tender. It was a perfect combination of flavors in your mouth. The sides were simple rice and black beans, which weren't anything to brag about, but I wasn't there for rice and beans anyway. We also had guac and queso appetizers, which helped add flare to my rice and beans. Some of my coworkers got brisket burritos which looked pretty tasty (and massive) so I plan on trying that next time. One thing about this restaurant is that it is a bit hard to find. It's on the corner of Colley and 21st St in Ghent, and it sits adjacent to an Anytime Fitness center. But the front entrance looked like a back door, and without visible signs in the dusk, I walked past it twice before realizing it. They could probably put some sign out front especially on rainy days when there is nothing on the patio and things are a little harder to see. read more

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My husband went to Luna Maya for our anniversary, and sat outside on the patio. The seating was ok, very close to others, but it was nice to be outside. The guacamole appetizer was eh. I was disappointed that the guac didnt even taste salted or seasoned in the slightest. The carnitas burrito was delicious! It was HUGE, and they were gracious enough to split it. I enjoyed the sauce they topped it with immensely, and the picture I included is only HALF of the burrito. The meat was falling apart and incredibly moist. I would give Luna Maya another try, perhaps during happy hour on the patio again. read more

Luna Maya - Carnitas Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

I used to live in Hampton Roads and would visit this place all the time! The ambiance was cool and lively for a Wednesday night. Our table of 6 was sat rather quickly. Our server wasn't the most attentive and left all of our dishes on the table. We had to stack them up ourselves to make room. The salsa was good, the spicy guacamole was delicious. A bit pricey for a small potion. We order three to cover the table. The regular house margarita with the chipotle salt rim was very tasty. A tad strong at first but once I stirred it up it was good. I ordered the lime chicken enchiladas. Huge let down. The chicken was tough and extremely dry. There was no chipotle red sauce inside or on top if it. A decent amount of of cheese with it. The rice was ok and so were the beans. It was a good potion but the enchiladas were a huge miss. It took about 5 mins for our server to come back by after our food was served. I asked the server for a side of sauce and was trying to kind of explain why. And she shouted back at me I can't hear you, what is it that you want? I was just trying to be discrete and provide some feedback. read more

Luna Maya - Cilantro lime chicken enchiladas with chipotle sauce - huge let down. Dry, touch chicken and basically no enchilada sauce. - Mexican Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Anytime I'm in Norfolk, I make an intentional effort to eat at Luna Maya! I've never had a better mojito - maybe they put magic in it?! The chipotle salsa paired with fresh salty chips is out of this world. Any item on the menu leaves taste buds wanting more. I HIGHLY recommend.Burrito Colorado read more

Every experience I've had at Luna Maya has been nothing less than amazing. Not to exaggerate but their spicy shrimp tacos are to die for. All tacos come fajita style so you can put them together yourself with the protein, beans, rice, pico and slaw. The portion sizes are also pretty big. Do not hesitate to make a reservation, especially in the summer time when their patio is open. This place gets PACKED easily. Overall- its a great spot for lunch, happy hour, and dinner. read more

Nice little establishment. Started with two mixed drinks (can't quite remember what they were called but one was mango). Tried the guac and that was flavorful and good- wasn't too spicy. We also got two dipping sauces to go with the salsa and guac and the habanero one was super spicy. The chipotle one was tasty. Chorizo burrito was huge and we ended up sharing it. Portions here are huge! Definitely a good place to check out when in Ghent! read more

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Loud and busy on weekends. But a lunch/supper on a not too busy night is worth seeking out. Great food.

Just had a terrible experience! I was not going to leave a poor review until I spoke with the manager! I came in at what felt like 745 this evening. Asked to sit outside because it was empty and it was just me. 2 other parties outside total. As a sat there for 20 mins I received a water. I was annoyed but had plenty of time to know exactly what I wanted. I ordered an appetizer and a $18 burrito. More people trickled in to outside as well. I noticed they were getting their margaritas and chips. I sat there with my coke and water waiting for my appetizer. Or at least chips. Nothing. I was completely neglected. This was dinner and I was already here for an hour it felt like. I walked out! I called the manager to let her know my experience so they could fix it. I didn't want to sit and write a review over it. Until my mind was changed by the manager! I told her what happened. She remembered me! I told her I came in alone at 745 to eat and was left in the dust. She said I have you coming in at 8:03! Wow. My time card was punched. I let her know I won't go through that again for dinner and it wasn't fair to me. She wanted me to come back some time so she could "overlook my service." No thank you Ma'am. read more

Hands down my favorite Mexican place in Norfolk! I've pretty much been through the entire menu with the many times I've been here and have loved almost everything I've tried. The burritos are huge, they have a great vegetarian friendly menu, and the flavors are impeccable. read more

Luna Maya - Mexican Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

The food is not authentic and it's just okay. The drinks are not very good. Our server was a little busy which we understood, but she made it easy to tell. The ambiance is nice but I remembered why I haven't been here a while. read more

This place is such a good spot for date night and will definitely be my new go to. The atmosphere is beautifully decorated and the lighting is dim but not dim enough that you can't see your food. We ordered the guacamole and chips that came with a side of salsa and if I'm being honest the salsa might have been my favorite. The guacamole was good but I like mine to be a little bit more cooler, it was just room temperature. Ordered the the carne asada tacos and substituted my rice and beans for spicy potatoes. Everything came out perfect. The service was a little slow but not due to our waitress which was great at keeping up with the rush of business. All in all give this place a try. Also try the sangria it's got some kick! read more

After striking out my first day in Norfolk on finding quality vegan/plant based food, I was looking forward to Luna Maya. So I went, and it was okay, not what I hoped. Aesthetically, the place was really cool. Had a nice bar, great seating, private room for large parties/special events (I'm assuming), and a great outdoor patio. The ambiance at night or on the weekend is probably really cool. That wasn't the issue, it was the food. They had a great vegan menu, I had the spinach quesadilla which was really good. But it was the little things as to why I gave 3/5 stars. But actually, thinking about it, it's a pretty big thing. THE CHIPS AND SALSA! The chips were not fresh, at all. I'm not sure if they make their own, but I felt like they were fresh out of a bag. Then to make matters worse the salsas wasn't good. It lacked lime or salt or garlic, something. All I could taste was chipotle and paprika. And speaking of paprika, that's all I really tasted in the "spicy" guacamole. Very disappointing for the main stay appetizers. The service was good, and I would definitely go back for the quesadilla. Perhaps the rice and beans too, but I'm okay on the chips and salsa :( read more

Celebrated my cousin's bday dinner here on a Friday night and it was my first time. If I had to give a theme for this restaurant, I would say "industrialized romance". From floating bulb lighting to candle lit tables, from the masonry brick walls to the beautiful hanging mirror, and from the open ceiling vents to the fancy black ceiling tiles. Had reservations but wasnt able to sit everyone together, so the restaurant accommodated us with free Guacamole and Queso with chips for both sides of the table . Finally ordered their beef brisket burrito and topped it off with their homemade queso sauce. It was pretty good! Our waitress was attentive and delivered great service. I'm going to come back again and try out more entrees selections. read more

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Overpriced for the "nothing to talk about" meal! I just spent $33.75 (without tip) for a little glass of sangria, rice and beans were bland, chips were cold, and a small amount of beans and guacamole. Most enjoyable part of the meal was listening to the awkward first date going on next to me (because seating is relatively close). Parking is limited. read more

Luna Maya - Chicken quesadillas - Mexican Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

My son & I go in here at least once a week since he was a tiny thing. They love & take care of us like family. Thankful for the vegan options. Their guacamole, vegan quesadilla & black beans are my favorite. Soli & I love you guys...thanks for always looking out..leaving us full & happy. Also understanding when I ask for everything quickly including to go boxes are a single parent my 4 yo read more

I was so excited to come back here after months of craving the stuffed poblanos! The food was still incredible and 5/5 stars in my book. I also tried the cilantro chicken tacos, which were really good and not too dry. There was plenty of food and lots of good flavor in the various toppings for the tacos. There were a couple things of note that were a bit disappointing and tempted me to drop a star. First, the poblanos were significantly smaller than last time, which was sad to see. Second, the service was not optimal; I came with a large group and luckily we were able to squeeze at the community table. We were initially told the wait would be 45-60 minutes, but were then told that it'd be an additional hour of waiting after we had already been waiting at least 30 minutes. All the time, there was a perfectly empty large table that sat empty when we arrived and remained so for 45 minutes. The wait for the food after ordering was not bad at all, but there definitely needed to be several reminders to the waitstaff of what food was missing, and there was still a couple of errors in the food that was brought out. Side note: our waitress was really (almost aggressively) on top of water refills, which was both entertaining and appreciated. read more

In an area full of overrated yuppie restaurants Luna Maya remains an original and delicious dining experience. I love the house tamales they're sweet and smoky and the rice on the side is perfectly cooked and paired with a black bean purée. Everything about Luna Maya is wonderful. The service is great and the food is excellent. Can't wait to go back and sip a spicy margarita and enjoy the atmosphere. I'd post a pic but the food was too good to waste time snapping photos read more

I love Luna Maya because I love their queso and guac. I get a burrito smothered in queso... I think the restaurant is pricey for the portion sizes (burrito with queso is $15! - no sides included). That being said, I think the food is great quality and it's a nice place to go to celebrate that's still pretty casual. read more

Luna Maya - Mexican Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Really overpriced for what my boyfriend and I received. I ordered tamales which had the meat outside the masa, also the masa wasn't processed properly either. I literally took 2 bites and sent it back. I ordered some quesadillas which were good but how can you really mess up quesadillas. All in all, never going back! Waste of money and time! read more

Let me be clear - I am a snob when it comes to Mexican food. Growing up in CA, I have high standards for flavor and freshness. Luna Maya did not disappoint! I got the brisket tacos and my friend got the carnitas tacos. Each dish had perfectly seasoned and cooked meat, warm tortillas, fresh guacamole and pico de gallo. The slaw added a nice bite and crunch too! The rice and beans were delicious as well! Needless to say, I think I know where I'll go when I need my next Mexican good fix! Highly recommend! read more

We went for a casual dinner here and this place didn't disappoint at all.. Turned out to be a good find in the area. They have patio seating as well but it was closed because of rain. Ambience is really good and gives you a semi fine dine experience. Although this is one of those Mexican restaurants where you won't get complimentary chips and salsa but can be ordered. We ordered Spicy guacamole which came with Chips, Guac and Salsa. Both salsa and guacamole were really good but chips didn't seem to be on point. They weren't bad but didn't taste 100% fresh. For main course we order Mushroom Poblano Quesadilla (vegetarian). Others ordered non vegetarian stuff which I can't review as I'm vegetarian but they said it was really good. Mushroom Poblano Quesadilla were crisp on the outside and mushroom stuffing inside tasted delicious. Sour cream on the side was fresh too. Rice and beans on the side were good when eaten together but beans alone were too salty. Overall it was a great find and would definitely come back here. read more

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My second time here and it's still great as my first!! It gets pretty busy so be prepared to wait for about 30 minutes or so depending how big your party is. The wait isn't bad though considering the amazing food you are about to consume. While you wait you could always hang out by the bar area and grab a few drinks. The drinks are strong and awesome! I think I had two drinks while waiting and I enjoyed both of them. It is strong by the way so be careful in how much you drink. I ordered the Pique a Lo Macho for my meal. Beware! It is spicy for those that are sensitive to spicy foods. No worries though! They have a mild version of it as well to satisfy your taste buds. The steak was cooked to perfection!! It was cooked to my liking, and it was tender and juicy! Save room for dessert because you have to try the flan!! I'm picky with my flan and I love their version of it!!! It has the perfect consistency and it has a vanilla taste to it. It just melts in your mouth and I would honestly just come back to eat it. I would definitely come back and try their tomales next time or maybe something different. I could see myself coming back here again in the next few weeks again. read more

Luna Maya - Pique a Lo Macho - Mexican Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

I am not a fan of Latin American / mexican cuisine, but I am a HUGE fan of Luna Maya! I came here with a group of 6 on a fri night, so naturally there was a wait. Surprisingly we only waited 30 mins, even though the hostess told us it would be around 45 minutes, which was nice! While waiting there is an awesome bar, in which their specialty drinks are really good, and really strong. I ordered the Pique a Lo macho, which was totally AMAZING! I would come back again, and again just to order this dish! One of the things I love about this dish is how they have a mild version of it! I am not a fan of spicy dishes, and was thrilled that they do have a mild version. Everything about it was delicious! I ordered the steak and it was cooked exactly the way I wanted it (medium rare). The potatoes, slaw, and sauce were all on point. No complaint about this dish, what-so-ever. If you're not a fan of spicy food, then this version is the meal for you! My boyfriend ordered the tamales, which was delicious! Another thing that was amazing, is the flan! Make sure you save room for it, you will not be disappointed! I don't think you can go wrong with anything here, and I can't wait to come back! :) read more

Luna Maya - Mexican Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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I like blondes and Journey. (Sorry...inside Yelper joke. It has nothing to do with this review but the next time we meet and I am intoxicated in public I will tell you the reason I have to turn up the radio whenever I hear Steve Perry belting one 80's hit after another. It involved a blonde and the incident can only be described as a "memory maker.") Anyway, Luna Maya. Luna Luna Luna Maya. I can't stop singing your name in my head after our meal last night. In my head my voice sounds like Steve Perry's in case you were wondering. Luna Maya is the kind of urban experience restaurant that people who love good restaurants always seek out. You can imagine a place in the not too distant future where you are suddenly a lot more wealthy than you are at the moment. You and the wife have an upscale condo within walking distance. Cool, pleasant evenings happen every night so you can take a leisurely stroll down to the restaurant as a way of building your appetite for dinner. I just hope it all happens before we are so old we have to polish our walkers and help change each other's adult diapers before going out. Unless you are that person who always wins on scratch off lottery tickets, don't plan on getting a table. Plan on sitting at the bar. Its that kind of busy, at least on weekends. We sat at the bar and were treated like royalty. Even though she was straight out slammed, our bartender (Robin) was flawless. Pleasant, polite, efficient and able to make one delicious Pisco Sour after another. Guac was good but the chipotle salsa was better. Nothing against the guac. It was fresh but just didn't have much going on inside. Guac needs to gyrate on your palate if you ask me. Spice it...acidify it...cilantro-ize it. Something. My wife went for the shrimp tacos and regretted being too chicken to go for the habanero option. All the components were fantastic but I think the entire composition just screamed for some heat. I opted for the stuffed poblanos with guajillo sauce. I am a rice fiend on most days and when you mix chorizo through it and then stuff it into a Poblano pepper, I am pretty much yours for the taking. Slap me, tickle me do what you want with me but just let me devour these freaking peppers first!!! Robin says if you want to try them come in early. They run out most nights. I would wax on about the tres leche cake but I can't. I can feel myself starting to get emotional kind of like that time at band camp when Journey came on the radio... read more

Love love love Luna Maya! After a return trip from Honduras, I never thought I would find a guacamole I would enjoy so much stateside. Forget about me sharing, I will eat a whole group serving all for myself because it is that good. Now I've tried a few things on the menu... my favorite is now what I tried last night: the tamales. I wasn't so hungry for the dinner entree, so I ordered the appetizer portion. It is the best like everyone else says. Why? It's got that combination of sweetness from the corn mix and the savory from the beef with a nice topping of sour cream. The happy hour is the best around here because my all time faves - margaritas and guacamole are even cheaper. The place itself is one of a kind. It's got a very open feeling, but the place still has distinct separation between the bar and dine in areas. I also like that extra room they have that they use for either private parties or to open up to larger groups. There's even a nice looking outdoor space for nicer weather that I have yet to enjoy. What's not to love about this place when there is great food and service at a great location. read more

Luna Maya - Tamale Appetizer - Mexican Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

I needed a place to eat so I went here. What a sentence! I sat at the bar and ordered the Guacamole and the Tamale--apparently the best-selling menu items. I went during happy hour which subsequently made me happy. I had a filling/inexpensive early dinner. The bartender Robyn was very nice/helpful/attentive/pretty. I would've stayed longer to talk to her but I don't like being a creepy dude. At any rate, I would recommend coming here for some tasty Bolivian food. This is another restaurant that for some reason I would not expect to exist in Virginia--how close-minded of me of thinking there's nothing around here (with my SF and LA thinking cap on). This is also an establishment that furthers my affinity for Ghent, my favorite district in this part of the country. They could improve their drink menu. I was sort of disappointed they only had 3 beers on tap. Overall, great place for a single diner or a second/third date. Take someone on a first date to No Frill Grill or Doumar's. read more