We are visiting Miami and wanted to try some Cuban food. We did some research and saw the reviews for Marabu restaurant and decided to give it a try! Let's start with the mojito that came with such a large piece of sugar cane. It was so good! The waiter recommended my meal and it was delicious. The meat was tender and well seasoned. It also came with beans and rice. One meal was probably enough for two people! The restaurant is located on the 4th floor of the outdoor mall near some neat shops. I loved the restaurant decor and everyone was so friendly. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and gave great menu recommendations. The staff was attentive, stopping by to refill our water and clear plates. I highly recommend this restaurant! read more

Marabu Restaurant - MARABU MOJITO - Cuban Near Me - Miami, Florida

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Stopped in with my adult daughter and wife, looking for an authentic Cuban food experience. The restaurant is fine, nothing great, but nice. The server was a bit disappointing though she warmed up during the meal. Just came across as aloof and wasn't overly helpful when I shared that we wanted a variety of their best dishes. We ordered the boniato al carbon appetizer which really is a must try. The charcoal on a sweet potato just hits. Balances out the sweetness perfectly. The Ropa Vieja is good - not great. The black beans and rice however were perfect and they balanced out everything we ate. The Cuban sandwich was what you'd want/expect it to be. Very nice The Cuban Fried Rice was the favorite dish for all of us. Everything in it was authentic and well done. What I appreciate about the food here is that nothing is over seasoned. I absolutely love spice but Cuban food isn't that. The food speaks for itself and they stay true to that read more

Marabu was a disappointment. We were hoping to have a memorable Cuban food on our short trip to Miami and unfortunately they did not deliver. We had an early reservation that they couldn't find when we checked in. They told us we could only sit outside in 95degree heat (the inside of the restaurant was actually empty?) They did seat us inside once we showed proof of our reservation... Our server was a nice guy and sweet with our daughter. We ordered the ham croquettes, ropa vieja, and fried snapper. The croquettes were OK. The ropa vieja was not good. The flavor was very one dimensional, it just tasted like tomato paste. I didn't like how they plated it - ropa vieja in a dish on a plate, with a totally separate plate for rice and beans. It made the meal feel disjointed and small. The deep fried snapper was the most disappointing. It was snapper nuggets with a (Cajun?) seasoning on top. They tasted like catfish nuggets and nothing about that dish felt or tasted Cuban. The idea of plating it with the fish bone wrapped around had good intentions but it didn't land. Does it really make sense to call this dish "whole fried snapper" if it's served as nuggets? Rice and plantains came on a separate plate and they were fine. I expected a lot more from this meal, but maybe we had an off experience. read more

The food was great. Marcia was wonderful to be served by. She gave great recommendations and I left completely full! Super fast and nice atmosphere. read more

Marabu Restaurant - Cuban Near Me - Miami, Florida

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This is a great Cuban restaurant at the Brickell City Center. We had a phenomenal dinner in the energetic but not overwhelming atmosphere of this restaurant. It's a great spot for large groups as the restaurant is very accommodating. We had a great experience with staff here. Our waitress Mara, was a ball of energy with great drink recommendations. The food was authentically delicious and flavorful. Wait time was minimal for both drinks and food. Overall a great experience! read more

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Considering the positive reviews, my expectations were set high. Unfortunately, my overall experience fell short. There was a party of 40+ that night and our food took a very, very long time to come out. I even noticed that tables around me were waiting on their food as well. Appetizer for ceviche came out quick but not very cold. It was an average ceviche. I've had better elsewhere. The drinks (marabu mule & spicy mango margarita) were decent. Skirt steak was overcooked. I ordered it medium but received close to well done. My dad's short ribs al carbon were so tiny! Also too charred. My skirt steak was also kinda burnt on the ends. My mom's local fish dish was bland. I enjoyed the side of mashed potatoes.. Best dish we had was the meringue cake. Our server was really nice though. I'm sorry but the food was not great. They automatically charge a 18% service fee which I thought they didn't deserve. Overhyped. read more

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From beginning to end we were transported to Cuba. The music, vibe and deco instantly sends you from a mall in Miami to Cuba. Our waitress, Marcia from Venezuela, was friendly and enthusiastic about the menu and making sure our evening was fun. We started with mojitos and a Margo-no-rita. Sugar cane and mint leaves spill out of the top of the mojitos. My wife said she didn't miss the alcohol in the Rita. We moved on to ham croquettes and empanadas. The croquettes are flavor bombs with the lime salt sending them to the next level. The empanadas are good and full of meat filling. We had 4 different entrees and shared them. My smoked pork was a tad dry but the Smokey presentation offset the texture. We did have to move the smoker off the table as it got eye irritating. I would have also liked a plate to move everything to after the wow factor. (I should have asked for one). My wife's fried fish is served whole in chunky bites. Flavored well it was great on its own. She thought the chili oil sauce had an Asian flare which felt off theme. Our friends dishes were the flank steak (good size and flavor) which was cooked to his required doneness, and the Marabu Charcoal pork. Both dishes were delicious with their sauces. Marcia suggested a fiery sauce if we liked heat. We told her to bring it and it did not disappoint. Heat at all levels left a good lingering heat for minutes. It was good with everything. We skipped dessert as we were full and chose to window shop in the mall to walk off a full belly. Highly recommend, ask for Marcia and we will be back. read more

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Most important: We came here because we looked for vegan Cuban options online, this has them listed online... There are 0 Vegan options here. So, if that's important to you, that online menu is wrong. Very good food. I loved the Cuban but that wasn't universal at the table. I thought it was thicker yet lighter than average and that was a nice change, other Cubans can be VERY dense. The drinks were very popular, I got a Cuban Old Fashioned. The espresso martini did great too. Great maduros. read more

Marabu Restaurant - Cuban Near Me - Miami, Florida

Service was wonderful. And it was a lovely break from the heat. The entree and dessert weren't as warm as I would've liked. But it all had nice flavors. read more

Marabu Restaurant - TUNA TOSTON* - Cuban Near Me - Miami, Florida

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Great dinner at this spot! Will come back for sure: must try's: the octopus appetizer (10/10), the tomato salad with strawberries and burrata (same) and the short ribs al carbone. Skip the shrimp and the wine - do a cocktail instead and get 2 of the octopus Lovely service and atmosphere! read more

Marabu Restaurant - SHORT RIBS AL CARBON (J) - Cuban Near Me - Miami, Florida

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Everything from the service to the food phenomenal. The empanadas were really good and the octopus was cooked to perfection, it was like they caught it morning of, so soft and the eggplant to accompany it was just a chefs kiss. I don't know what they put in the egg plant but WOW. It was so good Ribeye didn't feel like 18oz but nonetheless it was still good. I'm not sure if I'd order again. My three sides were plantains, fries, and yucca. The yucca here is definitely different that what I've had in the past. The texture was similar to a mozzarella stick lol Plantains were sweet and so good! Octopus and Eggplant: 10/10!! Empanadas: 8/10! Ribeye: 7/10! Fries: 3/10 Yucca: 5/10 Plantains: 7.5/10 Service: 8/10 read more

Marabu Restaurant - GRILLED OCTOPUS (J) ROPA VIEJA EMPANADAS - Cuban Near Me - Miami, Florida

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We had a great experience at Marabu. I wish I remembered the waitresses name, maybe it was Vicki (?), but she was wonderful! Such great service! All of the food was SO good! I got the grandmas chicken noodle soup which was amazing and very reasonably priced. We shared the ceviches, best I've had in awhile. The plantain appetizer was divine. Empanadas were yummm! And the salmon entree was amazing, cooked to perfection. The atmosphere was fun and good vibes although the tables were a little close together but overall great experience. read more

Food was excellent. Service and atmosphere is great. Mojito is one of the best in town! read more

Marabu Restaurant - Cuban Near Me - Miami, Florida

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If you're near the Brickell city center area, I would recommend coming to Marabu located inside the mall. To my surprise, there's not a lot of Cuban restaurants in the brickle area. You have to go outward a little bit so we were happy to have found something nearby . You can either get seated on their patio or inside. We opted for outside seating. I had their Vaca Frita plate and it was plenty. Service was kind and quick. read more

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Came here based on the great reviews and we were not disappointed! We sat at the bar and the drink menu looked delicious! During the course of the meal I tried the traditional Mojito, Guava Mojito and the Cuban Old Fashioned, they were all absolutely fantastic. We had the pork and the flank steak both cooked over coals from Cuba. Both meals were incredibly flavorful and the black beans that came with the steak were the best I've ever had. Our amazing bartender Tony highly recommended a traditional Cuban dessert which resembles bread pudding but was delicate and had the best flavors. Overall this is the best restaurant I've been too in a long time. If you're looking for a great meal that is unique and won't break the bank, going to Marabu is the best decision you can make! read more

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Food and service was amazing! Got the ribeye, ceviche and pork shoulder! It was so much food because so many of the items came with sides! The yucca is delicious! I'd get the ribeye again read more

Marabu Restaurant - Ribeye - Cuban Near Me - Miami, Florida

Wow! Coal-fired Cuban cuisine is unique and flavorful. The smoked masas de puerco was presented over charcoal. It was tender and tasty. The delicious Marabu Mule had the addition of guava. We also enjoyed the Marabu Ceviche with citrus marinated fish and shrimp, crispy corn nuggets and sweet potato chips. Marcia provided the best service. We appreciated her educating us on Cuban food. The ambience gave us a taste of Havana. read more

Marabu Restaurant - MASAS DE PUERCO AL CARBON - Cuban Near Me - Miami, Florida

Everything here was delicious! Service was fast and wonderful. Ambiance is cute however the restaurant Is not too big. Drinks were also great. read more

Marabu Restaurant - Cuban Near Me - Miami, Florida

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Came here to celebrate my grandmother's birthday and it was such a great choice. This place truly and accurately represents Cuban cuisine. We ordered a passion fruit mojito, and it was exceptionally made -- refreshing, well-balanced, and the perfect way to start the meal. The meats, cooked over coal, had that incredible smoky flavor that made them stand out. You can really taste the difference in quality and preparation. The fried rice was packed with flavor, and the lechón asado came with yuca and morro -- all perfectly cooked and so satisfying. To finish, we had Abuela's torrejas (bread pudding) for dessert, and it was the star of the night. The dulce de leche ice cream on top made it absolutely incredible and tied everything together perfectly. Overall, it was a great experience with fast service, amazing food, and a beautiful way to celebrate. We'll definitely be returning. read more

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Best happy hour in an outdoor mall. On top of the great shopping Brickell Center has , they also have some great restaurants to dine in once you get hungry and those restaurants all have great happy hours but Miami is known for having great Cuban food so I'm gonna do Marabu. The mojitos were amazing and the food was too. I went on a Wednesday at 4 pm and got some nice outdoor seating to enjoy my apps. I also had the steak but honestly those sweet plantains stole the show for me as well as those tostones. read more

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Look, I like Marabu - I wouldn't have given this restaurant 4 stars if I didn't. Food is good, drinks are well-made and the service we've received has been decent (though not overly attentive). As a bonus, they have large flat screen TVs at the bar and also at the far ends of the dining area in front of the main entrance for watching sports and other programming. That said, while the tagline for this restaurant is "Coal Fired Cuban Cuisine", do know that if you're looking for a truly authentic Cuban dining experience, Marabu shouldn't really be high on your list. Again, I like this place, but with things like Norwegian salmon, Korean short ribs and lots of wines from France and Italy on the menu, this really is more of a restaurant that's meant to serve the masses of people, including lots of tourists, who pour through Brickell City Center mall where Marabu is located. Come here for a solid dining experience with good food in a nice atmosphere with interesting Cuban-inspired decor. If you're looking a place that has a menu filled only with truly authentic Cuban food, there are many other Miami-area restaurants that are a much better fit, and most of them come at a lower pricepoint, too. read more

Service was horrible and manager was rude! Food is ok.. Meat was dry! They need to accommodate their guests better. read more

Great service and drinks were on point the fresh sugar cane was a nice touch. The Cuban sandwich was on point. The French toast desert was good too nit too wet. The jasper chicken could use some seasoning read more

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SKIP THIS PLACE FOR MIAMI SPICE (and probably in general). TLDR: The food was raw, bland, burnt and dry. The service was not worth 18% auto gratuity. They gave us the check before our last course came. My friends and I were going to the mall and decided to try this place out for Miami Spice since none of us have tried this place yet. The first course was fine. My friends and I got the BCC salad and one got the plantain one. The second course was a disaster. The pan con bistec I got was flavorless and dry. Half of the things that were listed that were going to be on the sandwich were not there. The bread was terrible. I barely ate it. One friend got the ropa vieja and she said even though it was in the sauce it was really dry. My 2 friends ordered the salmon bowl got it the worst. The presentation of it looked really beautiful but they cut into it and the salmon was RAW. It took a while to get the waiter's attention and they got new food but it was WORST this time. It was burnt on the outside AND raw on the inside. The server said he would talk to the manager to come speak to us but then handed us the check before serving the last course. We ordered both the sorbet and abuelta's torrejas. Sorbet was fine and torrejas I really could have done without. It seemed like anything that needed to be cooked was inedible. When the manager finally did come, he looked at the salmon and said it was "cooked medium rare". Ok, nobody comes to a restaurant to eat MEDIUM RARE SALMON. It's not a steak. I can understand the struggle of Miami restaurants and restaurants in general but this obscenely poor service and god awful food is not worth paying for. So if this is what they're giving, they should be shuttering. This is the worst first impression of this restaurant and I'll NEVER eat there again. My friend didn't even make it out of the mall before she had to use the toilet after eating the salmon. This is your only warning, diners. EAT ELSEWHERE!! Go to Motek across the way. read more

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Had a really nice dinner here last night before hopping on a cruise ship the next day. Very good quality Cuban food and one of the fastest dining experiences and that is not a bad thing. This place is fun, has a great vibe and the food was absolutely delicious. The service was awesome and friendly. The owner/manager came and ensured we were happy and the food was your liking. Can't remember last time I saw that touch. Had strip steak, black beans and rice, chicken, flank steak and if I had to say anything, you gotta try it. The food was delivered so promptly and it was cook to perfection. Their staff knows what they are doing. Sat at 6pm and food was on table and we were near finished in 30 mins. It's that good and that quick. You'll love this place read more

Marcia was amazing. Food was fresh and hot Great wine recommendation Noise level was good. You could still hold a conversation read more

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We tried Marabu on a whim as we were staying overnight in Miami before a cruise. We wanted something that was different and unique. The location is inside an outdoor shopping plaza so it was a little hard to find because it was on a top floor but the ambiance was great! The food fantastic and the service was awesome. You can't go wrong for a little date night while you are in Miami. read more

Marabu Restaurant - Cuban Near Me - Miami, Florida

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Arrived in Miami later on a Friday night and our hotel concierge recommended Marabú- we were not disappointed. I grew up in a Cuban household and this place brought me home to my grandmothers cooking, but while enjoying an airy, colorful and vibrant space. Our waiter Joao was friendly and provided excellent service. Overall this Marabú delivered an excellent dining experience. read more

Marabu Restaurant - Carajillo - Cuban Near Me - Miami, Florida

Terrific food, atmosphere, service in a lovely (pretty noisy) hoppin' vibe. Due to Miami Saturday night traffic, we were WAY late for our 7:30 pm reservation. The hostess gave us a teeny table for our party of six, and then moved us to a larger table when one opened up. Loved the meal, big portions, choice of three delicious sides. Cooked perfectly with innovative presentation. Highly recommended! read more

Great Cuban option on the top floor of Brickell City Centre. Cuban sandwich was outstanding but pricey (this ain't the cheap part of town papi : ). Service was sweet and prompt. Ambience is loud but classy, and try to sit outside for the people watching. read more

The food was unfortunately a huge disappointment despite the good presentation. The ceviche and salmon tartare were good (6.5/10), the beef ribs were well presented but not good at all: not flavorful, and overcooked and rubbery, burned our hands and surely much too expensive for such poor quality (1.5/10). The ribeye was also well presented but just average at best. Also extremely overpriced for what you get (5.5/10). The grouper was cooked well but had no flavor. Very bland (3/10). The Cuban Old-Fashioned was superb (8.5/10) Our server was very nice and amicable. The music is pretty loud but if you like EDM you'll enjoy. But I think in a Cuban restaurant the music should match its food. read more

Dined at Marabu for Valentines Day! We had a good dinner, the service was so great. We started with a cucumber salad that was my favorite dish we ordered and also the sweet potato, it was so deliciously sweet and salty! For dinner I ordered the ribeye and my fiancé ordered the Churasco. We both enjoyed our steak and the avocado side we got was so yummy. The only complaint I would have is my ribeye came out on a hot stone, I like my steak rare. As I started to eat it, it got more and more cooked to the point where it was too cooked. I ended up taking it off and putting it on a normal plate. My fiancé liked his Churrasco and moros. For dessert we ordered the Cuatro leches, it was good but I thought it would be better. This is a spot we are glad we tried but we probably won't be back. read more

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First time having Cuban food and it was amazing!!! Our server Ayeli went over the menu and made great suggestions for appetizers drinks and food. She made sure we were happy with everything we got and was excited we were having Cuban food for the first time at Marabu. This will be a must stop anytime we are in Florida. read more

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Great appetizers, good mains, but service and charges could be clearer. We recently dined at Marabu in Brickell and overall had a good experience, though there were a couple of hiccups. The appetizers really stole the show--everything we tried was excellent. The empanadas were crispy and flavorful, the ceviche was super fresh, and the truffle Yukon potatoes were a hit with everyone at the table. I highly recommend starting your meal with any (or all!) of these. For mains, we ordered a variety--an off-menu stew, the ribeye, and the grouper. All were good, but honestly, the apps set such a high bar that the entrees, while solid, didn't quite measure up to the starters. One issue that stood out: the ribeye was ordered medium and confirmed to be pink inside, but it arrived well done. I sent it back, and the hostess agreed with me right away, which I appreciated. They brought out a new steak about 15 minutes later, but by then, the timing of our meal felt off. It would have been nice to see a manager come by or get a small gesture--like a complimentary coffee or dessert--to acknowledge the inconvenience, but nothing was offered. The kitchen staff seemed indifferent, which took away from the hospitality. Another point to note: Maradu adds a mandatory 18% service charge to the bill, which I expected in Miami. However, the bill also recommended an additional 3-7% tip (5% was highlighted). This turns a regular tip into more than 25% once you do the math, which felt excessive. When I asked about it, our server said the service charge "isn't for me," which made things feel a little uncomfortable and left me confused about who's actually getting what. Transparency on this would really help. All in all, the food is definitely worth trying, especially the appetizers. I'd still recommend Maradu for a night out, but just be aware of the service charge and double-check your bill before tipping extra. read more

Marabu Restaurant - RIBEYE 18oz (J) - Cuban Near Me - Miami, Florida

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This place is so cute. Interior is done so well. Restaurant is very clean given how busy this place was. We walked in without reservations and were seated immediately. Jorge was our server and he was just the best. Patient with our nut allergies, he took time out to go over the ingredients of the yummy Cuban sandwhich we ordered. The sandwhich was huge, perfect to share. Extremely juicy and flavorful. It comes with fries but we opted for salad as the fry oil had peanuts due to cross contamination. We also had the side of yuca fries and were not disappointed. Price point based on the location was on the higher end. Great beverage list with alot of options. Overall great experience and we would revisit for sure. read more

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This place has really good food, and our server Geraldine was nothing short of fantastic. She did an excellent job of explaining the menu and made some fantastic recommendations. The ambiance here has an intimate setting, and the lighting can set the mood for a great date night or an entertaining family dinner. The drinks were delicious and had a great flavor. Plus, it didn't hurt that the bartender didn't skimp on the alcohol lol The location was a little confusing to get to, but the overall building and area were nice and in a huge mall setting. The ONLY knock I have on this place was that there were a few gnats flying around, and one got into my drink. Thankfully, Geraldine was an excellent waitress and replaced my drink as soon as she saw that I was scanning the drink for it. I'd definitely recommend this place and would come back in the future! read more

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The food was really good. The atmosphere was awesome. The service was excellent. My friend and I shared the Cuban sandwich. It was very delicious. And my other friend got the ceviche I would go back there again. Ps I like it how it surrounded like a a Big shopping mall read more

I always enjoy their happy hour drinks . Not the biggest fan of their bar bites. But their cocktails do not disappoint ! So happy they use the same recipe as their regular priced cocktails ! read more

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Our first meal in Miami was at Marabu, and it really was the perfect way to introduce ourselves to the city! Since we aren't local, we were unfamiliar with the layout of Brickell City Center and had a little trouble finding the restaurant, but once we found it all was good! We sat indoors at the hopes that it would be air conditioned, but there was enough openness to the outdoor area that it was still stifling inside where we were. This was unfortunate since it was exceptionally hot during our visit, but we managed. The food was good enough to counteract that flaw lol. Our server was really nice and very helpful when we asked for recommendations. The food also came out fairly fast (note that were were dining here a bit early by Miami standards I think, around 5:30pm. We started out by sharing the tostones rellenos and got the combo so we could try all three fillings (pork, beef, and shrimp). They were all really tasty! I tried (per the recommendation of our server) the masas de puerco al carbon which was roasted pork chunks with garlic and onions. I also modified my side dishes based on her suggestion and got moro rice and yuca fries instead of the traditional plain yuca. First off, the presentation was a lot of fun with it coming to the table on a little grill and still smoking. I used a small side plate to make it easier to eat the pork by removing it from the grill so I could cut it. It was DELICIOUS! So succulent and flavorful. I was so sad that I got full and couldn't finish every last bite of it. The moro rice and yuca fries were the perfect accompaniments. Both were tasty and well-seasoned. Again, I couldn't finish them either but if I went back I would happily order this exactly the same way. I definitely recommend Marabu if you want really tasty Cuban food in this neighborhood. read more

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Very tasty Cuban food, okay service that was a bit deceptive (water is $9 with no mention of cost, multiple reviewers mentioned this months ago and they're still doing it) and slow, and nice ambiance. I had the lechon asado lunch special with a Hatuey beer to wash it down. The chicken soup was simple, but quite good with that homemade freshness and lime to add some brightness. The lechon asado was really tasty - the pork was so tender and delicious with the fat and mojo sauce, and smelled incredible. The moro rice and yuca with the zip of vinegary onions was very flavorful. The entire meal was delicious and very filling and the Hatuey was a nice pairing. Service was a bit slow, and a touch deceptive. It wasn't super busy on a weekday after the lunch rush. I knew better to ask for tap water instead of biting on the "still or sparkling" (no mention of $9 cost up front). I dined solo, and it took quite awhile to get my drink and for them to take my order. Felt a bit ignored since grat is already included, and the table next to me was larger and was getting a lot more attention from the same server who kept walking past me. I also had to ask for the lunch special menu, which is what brought me there in the first place from looking online. I know servers want a bigger tip, but please do better. They press you on giving a review when they drop the bill, so here's my honest review. read more

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