Outdoor Grill

I came here for one thing and one thing only: the flaming saganaki…read more IT WAS SO GOOD. The lemon really makes it top notch. I think the waiters were confused as to why I was only ordering one item, but I had too many food places to try. The free bread and olive oil were lovely. They use some high quality olive oil and you can tell. Service was FAST. They don't mess around. It was clean and cute inside. I'd love to return for a full meal.

During a work trip to Chicago, I decided to check out Greektown, and after reading the online…read morereviews and getting recommendations from my hotel, I was told Greek Islands was one of the best spots for authentic Greek food. The moment I stepped inside, I felt like I had been transported to a small Greek taverna. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and our server was incredibly friendly and welcoming. One of the highlights for me was being able to order and converse in Greek, it made the experience feel that much more authentic and special. Of course, I couldn't decide on just one dish, so I had to order a little bit of everything. Why not? The saganaki was absolutely delicious and is definitely a must-try. The avgolemono was decent and comforting, though it wasn't quite as memorable for me. The pastitsio was a bit of a mix. The flavor was delicious and packed with that classic Greek comfort-food goodness, but unfortunately, the béchamel was overcooked and had become too firm. Overall, between the friendly staff, welcoming atmosphere, and flavorful food, I had a very good experience at Greek Islands. There are still plenty of classic dishes I'd like to try, so I wouldn't hesitate to come back the next time I'm in Chicago.

5.9 mi•Greektown, West Loop, Near West Side

Grilled Octopus

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Street view of the restaurant facade.

Athena Greek Restaurant

3.5(1.1k reviews)

I think some of the food here is very good and some is more of an acquired taste. I would…read moredefinitely recommend the roast chicken; for $28, you get potatoes, rice, and half a chicken that is delicious. We also got the souvlaki and dip trio; the spicy feta was the star, the eggplant was okay, and the potato/fish roe was not for me personally. The souvlaki is meant to be lit on fire when it comes out but ours was a weak sizzle at best... the cheese was very sharp and alcoholic as a result. Final thoughts: would stop in here if I was in a pinch, get the chicken, skip the apps.

This place was decent and accommodated my husband's gluten allergy…read more I got the moussaka which was pretty good. We got the hummus and eggplant spreads to start and those were a little disappointing. The fried calamari was good.

Ocean/wave artwork

Lamb ribs shops

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Inside of Greek Stuffed Chicken ($26) - chicken breast filled with spinach and feta. Big portion.

Ema

4.3(2k reviews)

6.0 mi•Near North Side

I LOVED my meal here! Ēma (Ay-mah) brings some glamour and glitz to the Mediterranean dining scene,…read morewith an airy, elevated hotel-lobby feel that still doesn't demand a dress code. Dresscode: Smart Casual / Casual Noise Level: Medium (it gets buzzy after 5:30pm) Thursday night Happy Hour was lively, so it took about 10-15 minutes for someone to come around, but service was attentive once we got going. The food is where Ēma really shines. From the Happy Hour menu, the Charred Eggplant Hummus and Crispy Potatoes were generously portioned and great for sharing. On the main menu, the Indian-Mediterranean fusion Bhel Hummus was a party for my taste buds, while the Hot Honey Halloumi and Chicken Kefta rounded out the table nicely. The halloumi is more of a side than a main, but that sweet-and-salty hot honey combo was chef's kiss. For our finisher, the Chocolate Torte knocked us out. Decadent, delicious and chocolate with lots of depth. Overall, Ēma is an excellent spot to order a bunch of dishes for the table and get an elevated meal without feeling stuffy, and delicious without taking itself too seriously. DO's: - Make a reservation ahead, especially for happy hour 4-6pm - Treat apps like small plates, order 2-3 to sample - Entertain their wine list, they have a lot! - Bring vegetarians here, there are plenty of options DON'Ts: - Dismiss the desert menu. It's fantastic and shareable! - Forget to ask for extra pita with the hummus! - Miss out on the LettuceEats loyalty points (check-in with your server before paying your check)

Came for a late lunch. Split a meal: *Whipped spicy feta -…read moreVery tasty. The pita was warm with lots of za'atar. Enough to share with 2-3 people *Braised short rib sandwich - In a pita stuffed with cabbage. The beef was extremely tender. Unfortunately there was several large pieces of cabbage core vs shredded. The fries were crispy and seasoned with za'atar. The au jus provided, tasted it had a bit of red wine vinegar. That was a winner! Would order both items again. The decor is beautiful. Sat at the bar and the bartender wasn't in the best mood. Minus one star for the combination of the large pieces of cabbage core and sat at the bar for about 15 minutes - no one was there to serve us.

5.4 mi•Fulton Market, West Loop, Near West Side

Ema tables and bar

Tuna & Watermelon* june 2026.

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Inside

Aba

4.4(2k reviews)

•$$$

Amazing ambiance. Great service. Great food. We sat inside and will definitely be back on a nice…read moreday to sit outside.

This restaurant space is beautifully done inside and you can also sit out on their balcony patio,…read morewhich is such a nice option as well. They have the decor down to the details. We got the smoky garlic hummus, whipped feta, brussel sprouts, and lemon meringue bar for dessert, and honestly everything was amazing. The harissa honey on the brussel sprouts was so good, and the lemon meringue bar with the citrus crema and graham cracker crust was the perfect sweet item to round out the meal. They bring complementary pita with your hummus and dips and the bread with za'atar itself was delicious. They recommend 2-3 share plates per person, but we ordered 3 plus dessert for two people and still had leftovers. So I'd say it definitely depends on how hungry you are! We went for lunch/brunch and were pretty much the first people there, so service was super fast. Our server was lovely and incredibly attentive with topping off water and clearing plates. Definitely would come back to try some of their larger plate options.

Interior

Muhammara

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Frozen Greek yogurt

The Purple Pig

4.3(9k reviews)

6.2 mi•Near North Side

•$$$

Good food, eclectic environment but too small to be comfortable. A lot of patrons jammed in to a…read morerelatively small dining area. Usually long lines and some wait time.

This was such a life changing experience from a flavor perspective! We were in town for the…read moreweekend and stopped by because we'd heard amazing things about what The Purple Pig does with pork and we were not disappointed! We started off with the bone marrow; it was incredibly flavorful, paired nicely with a nut jam and some greens and bread. We also got the Agnolotti pasta, and this was our favorite bite of the evening by far. The beef short rib, paired with more marrow and the butter sauce were absolutely incredible and we will be thinking about them for a long time to come. We ended with the pork tenderloin and it was a lovely ending dish. The pork was cooked to perfection and paired with sautéed oyster mushrooms and corn. Service was exceptional and quick! We will come back with a bigger group the next time we are in the city!

The kitchen

Chicago style hot dog

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Squid Ink Chitarra

Andros Taverna

4.2(453 reviews)

1.4 mi•Logan Square

We had such a wonderful experience here! The food was absolutely fantastic -- and as someone who is…read moreGreek, I know good, authentic Greek food when I taste it. Everything was delicious and tasted fresh and genuinely authentic. I also want to give a special shout-out to Luis, director of operations . He was absolutely wonderful. There was an issue with our bill, and Luis went above and beyond to make sure everything was taken care of. He was incredibly kind, professional, and genuinely cared about making things right. His customer service was exceptional, and you could tell that he truly cares about his guests and his restaurant. I'm actually in Greece right now, and I have to say, I'm already missing the food here! That says a lot about how good this restaurant is. We will absolutely be back. Thank you, Luis, for taking such great care of us!

3.5 stars would be most accurate. The food was delicious and some of the staff were nice. But there…read morewas something disappoinitng. Let's start with the food. I ordered Prawns Saganaki and side of pita bread. Asked for no oil nor salt for the pita. While it was shown on the lunch menu on their website, the Prawns Saganaki was actually not on the lunch menu. Luckily, the kitchen has prepared it (for dinner) so I was able to try it. In total 4 pc of big shrimp, served with tomato sauce, crumbled feta and cherry tomatoes. The feta was so finely crumbled that it could easily "melt" in the sauce. The cherry tomatoes added more juiciness to it. Overall great, and definitely paired well with the pita. What made me disappointed, if not annoyed, was the check-in. I waited for nearly 6 min until someone finally noticed me. The staff said she would come "just a minute". At that time a woman (white) went into the restaurant and sat at the bar. Then she started to greet her, and discussed the menu with her, and even took the order! Looked like she completely forgot my presence. Possibly some discrimination/racism idk. i would have left if the restaurant did not charge a no-show fee for reservation. Luckily they took off the pita from my bill after I complained about the waiting time (I did not say about discrimination because I am not sure about it).

4.2 mi•Lincoln Park, DePaul

End of the night. Adorable atmosphere.

Loukamades

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Octopus Skordalia + Side Pita

Athenian Room

3.9(978 reviews)

food: the gyro and everything else was good and tasted authentic. portion size is also good…read more service: nice staff and food came fast. cash only establishment ambiance: sat outside and the weather was perfect

From the moment you walk in, it's clear that Athenian Room holds a beloved place in the Lincoln…read morePark community! It's a mom-and-pops shop through and through- you'll see homely decor, a simple but well done menu, and people from all walks of life coming together over delicious food. The staff was warm and attentive throughout the meal and brought out delicious complimentary french bread. It's pretty cool that although the restaurant doesn't serve alcohol, staff from the adjacent bar came around every so often and took orders. For appetizers, we started with the feta and olive appetizers. They were good, but I'd probably order something a little more unique next time. I opted for the chicken kalamata dinner for the main event, which came with more french bread and a salad. The salad came out first, and it was pretty simple with minimal dressing. I wished there had been more variety in produce and something besides iceberg lettuce for greens. I'd recommend getting some feta on the side to add some flavor. The chicken, however, was absolutely outstanding. It was super tender, seasoned beautifully with za'atar, and brined in vinegar (I think). The za'atar seasoned french fries underneath were extra crispy and perfectly soaked up the extra sauce from the chicken. For the price, this place is a steal- you really can't beat the quantity and quality of food that you get. Overall, a great experience- I definitely recommend making a stop if you're in the area!

5.4 mi•Fulton Market, West Loop, Near West Side

Seating

Skirt steak ft knife and fork

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Dining room

LÝRA

4.1(621 reviews)

An amazing team meal at Lyra, wouldn't change a thing…read more The servers managed a large party with two food allergies and lots of food preferences with ease and attentiveness. Cocktails to start were delicious - we also started with the Breads and Spreads platter, that had most of their dips (all were amazing) with crudite, pita and lavash. Other starters included the charred octopus, crispy calamari and crispy zucchini and eggplant. The octopus was so good we ordered another one! For mains, we shared the chicken souvlaki, branzino, deconstructed pastitsio and lamb. All the flavors and dishes were beautiful and delicious. It's been two days since our dinner and I still have people raving about that meal. The table side Branzino was awesome and fun to introduce to a few that had never had it before. Will definitely be back, what a gem!

Only grabbed drinks here on a Friday night!…read more Music was great - fun to dance to although I will say, I think I was one of the few busting a move! Sparkler presentation was very pretty & cute moment!

Crispy calamari

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Slow Roasted Lamb Gyros - IG @thebaoeats

Greek Prime Kitchen & Bar

4.3(142 reviews)

8.6 mi•Bridgeport

Everytime I have eaten here I've really enjoyed their food. My favorites include: Greek salad with…read morechicken breast, filet mignon pita, and filet mignon platter. But the STAR dish for me and one of the best I've ever tried: Chicken Riganati. So so good!! Highly recommend!

We had a wonderful dinner. We tried the skordalia with fried zucchini & the Hercules (mixed of…read moreskewers & gyro meat) platter. Service was friendly, welcoming & not intrusive.

Greek skillet with added onions. Being treated to world class service by Andres.

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The lighting Is a little funky but this is their deliciously moist chocolate cake. I believe it's a triple chocolate cake.

Avli on The Park

4.0(335 reviews)

6.7 mi•The Loop

•$$$

These plates were shared by our party of five. Our waiter was great and helped us with suggestions…read moreon certain dishes and also the quantity we might need for a party our size. He was spot on with everything. We sat on the rooftop, which is beautiful. In addition to table seating, there is also a very nice bar. The food was not only phenomenal, but there were so many gluten-free options! Our waiter was very knowledgeable and helpful in this regard as well. The zucchini chips were so good. I actually had to ask him a second time to make sure they were truly gluten-free! This desserts look delicious, but we did not have room to even consider that. I would say the prices are a little bit high, but definitely worth it for a special occasion. My friend looked up their happy hour prices, and we are planning a visit for happy hour in the near future. In addition to the regular menu items, they also have a selection of fish depending on what is market fresh each day. The restaurant was pretty busy for a Monday. Fortunately, we had reservations and I would highly recommend doing that.

What a gorgeous, elegant restaurant! I attended a work lunch here, so we ate family style. And OH…read moreBOY did we eat. First, we started off with some Strawberry Spritz drinks with Prosecco. We were fully refreshed, as these were absolutely delicious. The food. Appetizers first, a selection of mezze and saganaki! I could have made a meal out of this course, everything was fantastic and fresh. Hummus, baba ganoush, turnips, olives, fresh pita bread with a couple of other yogurt-based spreads. Entrees. Chicken kabobs, salmon and roasted vegetables. Again, everything freshly made, flavorful and JUICY DELICIOUS. The salmon, especially was really tasty. Had an opportunity to take leftovers home, sure - don't mind if I do. The salmon made an EXCELLENT salmon salad the next day - it was still flavorful and fresh! We ended the day laughing and dishing on the rooftop terrace. Another Strawberry Spritz? Yes, please!! I will be back - the food is top notch. Staff is incredible, friendly and attentive. The restaurant itself is absolutely beautiful - a gem!

The bar

Salmon

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Avli on The Park Rooftop

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17 reviews that are not currently recommended

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Kevin C.

14 years ago

I swear I freakin love this place! New to the area here....moved in my apartment on Keystone right up the street about 5 months ago...and I swear if there's one positive thing I can say about this area...it is the fact that Outdoor Grill is AWESOME! I tend to be one of those that finds something on a menu I like and stick to it consistently to play it safe. For the most part I did this with the Philly Steak sandwich they have. Simple enuff but delicious in my opinion. Fortunately I have visited this place with friends and family and have been able to try numerous other dishes there. Their gyros are awesome as well! And if you like shakes.....Banana Chocolate: WOW! Another simple yet delicious treat at Outdoor Grill! Do yourself a favor and stop in if you want something with a ton of variety and need to be sure you will enjoy your meal! read more

Sarah B.

11 years ago

Favorite Outdoor Grill ever! We came here super late and the the lady at the Drive Thru was so chill and cool! We told her we need hot sauce and we Indians love spicy food and she gave us a bag full!!! No Thank you drive thru lady, and thank you to the manager and owner for not being cheap and hiring fun people! I give you guys an A+ read more

Gregory M.

17 years ago

Great Gyros!! Excellent Fries!! and awesome Fountain Coke (a true difference- Angelo, owner said he had the machine tweaked by Coke) The place was clean with traditional menu - Staff very friendly Top local place for that type of food!! read more

Julio R.

8 years ago

Friendliest and tastiest American food service in the 60618 by a landslide! Wide variety menu, and TV screens to go with the meal. You got to try their Chili Cheese Fries with Hot Peppers right now! read more

Ann C.

14 years ago

I love this place! I've been going here for years now. I work across the street from here, my employees and I always order from here. The customer service is great along with the food too. read more

Emelia N.

12 years ago

Outstanding food!! Really an A++++ for these guys. I was quite hungry when I came in but when I saw the first burger I knew I was going to order another one.. and I did. Again A++++ read more

Emma F.

178

13 years ago

I think this place is just purely amazing. I have never ordered anything I didnt like. They are super fast and super friendly. thanks for all the extra calories!! lol read more

Catrachitalove F.

464

7 years ago

There burgers are so delicious and the drinks are great options and the fries are so good they taste like heaven the people who work there are so kind. read more

Meghan A.

12 years ago

We had a very nice time eating here. The food was amazing and the staff is fun and friendly. Will definitely return :)

Michael P.

9 years ago

one of my favorite spots to go to in this area, friendly employees and Food is great!!

Lucy T.

9 years ago

Anyone who comes here has to try the gyros wrap with the oreo shake. It is delicious!

Sergio R.

14 years ago

I just had a cheeseburger to go and it was absolutely delicious!!!

T.J. S.

19 years ago

Great food, friendly atmosphere, cheap prices and great food!!

Tim M.

14 years ago

I love the egg lemon soup!!!!!!!! Best I've ever had.

Stephanie F.

284

13 years ago

Super friendly, clean and there food is always good.!

April S.

118

14 years ago

Great food, great prices, excellent service.

Jeanetta C.

15 years ago

Chicken kababobs are great.

Outdoor Grill - newamerican - Updated September 2026

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Great customer service, the philly cheesesteaks and burgers are amazing! Overall great food!read more

Very good costumer service and good food, i definitely recommend, you should try the burgers and…read morethe grilled chicken sandwishes soo good!

Munchies & More

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Munchies is a great neighborhood fast food restaurant found in a little plaza near the…read moreElston/Addison/Kimball intersection. They have a variety of food on the menu from burgers, hotdogs, gyro plates, chicken tenders, pizza, etc. I love coming here because they have pizza puffs!! Whenever I am in need of a pizza puff fix I come here to satisfy that craving. It's small inside but they have a few tables available if you would like to dine in. My little family of 4 dines here sometimes whenever we have the munchies! The fries that come with the combo meals are a huge portion and are nicely seasoned. The food is cooked to order so it's usually nice and hot and fresh. Wait time is not long at all. I normally come at night because they are usually open late.

For cheap eats along Elston, you can't beat Munchie's. Burgers, hot dogs, shakes, and my favorite,…read morepizza by the slice. MMMM, I'm hungry

Quick Bite Carry Outs

4.1

(109 reviews)

Stopped in for a Quick Bite to eat before work. I'm glad that this place has reopened after being…read morehit by a car. They pricing hasn't changed much as this place is a bargain. I love that the same people are running the place. I ordered the gyro special which includes fries and a drink. Remember this is a cash only restaurant. The dining area can hold a limited number of people and the counter space to eat is smallish. I hit my knee thinking I had more space. I received my food and everything was excellent. I love that they put tzatziki sauce on the top and bottom of the gyro. It had a little crisp from the flat top. The fries were good and well salted.

I stumbled upon Quick Bite Carry Outs while randomly looking for a place that sells gyro…read morecheeseburgers. Quick Bite Carry Outs was rated the top place in the neighborhood. From the very moment I arrived, the staff was extremely welcoming. The inside is small but they have a few stools for people that want to dine-in. They don't have outdoor seating so the inside can get full quickly. The inside is clean and a staff member was actively picking up anything left behind to ensure it stayed that way. You can tell this is a mom and pop place because they took their time making sure everything well made. I didn't have to wait too long to get my order. It came with a separate basket of fries and so much gyro meat on the double cheeseburger. I struggled (in a good way) to get a solid bite of my cheeseburger. I had at least two solid meals leftover based on the amount of food I received. I highly recommend checking out Quick Bite Carry Outs not just for the gyro cheeseburger but for everything!

Slim's

4.1

(450 reviews)

This place is so good that the name is definitely misleading if you eat here with any regularity,…read morelol. It's high quality American food. The milkshakes are probably the best I've had in the city. Worth checking out!

I had the $13.99 two gryos & small fry special. I shared it with a friend; I didn't think the…read moregyros meat tasted good, but my friend love it. Amazingly friendly people, and it's a cute little hole-in-the-wall place.

Hilltop

3.0

(117 reviews)

Very good service and the people are very nice and friendly and I would eat here again because it…read morewas my first time in the restaurant and so on.

First of all, why the hate on this place? It's NOT fine dining. It's not unusual, exotic food. I…read morewent in with LOW expectations. The owner (?) manager could not have been a nicer guy! Super friendly, helpful, attentive without hovering. The food: My Reuben was okay. Solid. Extra kraut, check. The french fries were crispy outside, moist inside, very good! My companions food looked great - standard eggs, bacon, pancakes, sausages. Well done! The interior - looks like it was recently remodeled. It's not stylish, it's not threadbare. It's somewhat hilariously tacky with weird murals, and photographic "Welcome to Hilltop" compositions. It's diner food. It's basic. It's good!

Mr. Gee's

3.7

(111 reviews)

The customer service is excellent, The guy in the front is really charismatic and very attention to…read moredetail . The chicken and potatoes is my favorite , very flavorful. The place is very clean and I love the aesthetic . Definitely recommend!

I ordered an order for about 25 people. I placed it with a day ahead so I wanted to make sure no…read moresurprises. Unfortunately, the chicken was very cold upon arrival. It must've been sitting for a while before delivered. Then, my biggest problem was that we found worms all over the salad. I called the same day and complained about it. The lady told me they would call me back the next day and never did. The guy called me 3 weeks later and was extremely rude and called me a liar. Terrible customer service. I've ordered from here plenty of times but never again. Buy food somewhere else where they are clean and respectful!

Fry the Coop

4.6

(105 reviews)

Second time coming in. Walk in, place my order, didn't leave a tip as I was just taking it to go…read more Another individual walked in after me and placed their order. The sandwich was really good. Got the Nashville with the hot spice level. Also got fries which were pretty good too. So why the 3 stars? Well, the individual that ordered AFTER me got their food before I did. And the employee that took my order was kind of cold(to be clear, i don't expect employees to be overly nice or even smile, but this individual was like not nice). Was it because I didn't leave a tip for a to-go order? Idk. Previous time I came in, similar thing happened but I wanted to give them another shot before leaving a review. In short, food is really good, but I'm not coming back.

Different location Same great taste you will not be disappointed. I usually go to the Oaklawn…read morelocation, but since I was working in this area, I decided to stop at this location and let me tell you something. It's the same great taste. I'm so glad I stopped her today. If you never had them it's a must try. Service was great as always keep up the good work by fry coop so delicious.

Dappers East

3.5

(189 reviews)

But finally got to go early before they close for dinner since they close around 7:30 and don't…read moreserve. Food so far tastes good especially their bread soft and warm I could put butter but holding back on it. It surprises me that they serve matzo ball soup because I only know two restaurants and one of them is Manny's deli which is expensive for months about soup. Dappers version for matzo ball soup is a little more celery or salty but decent it doesn't have a chicken noodle soup flavor which is not bad as for the matzo ball it's a little more smoother and not as spongy when you bite down. As for the main course I ordered liver and onions instead of bacon with rice ambience is very old school casual I've been to dappers before before because I was invited after a wake for reception and this is the first time dining alone but otherwise it looks pretty decent and the prices aren't too expensive do come here but it's best to come here before 7 pm for dinner otherwise they close the kitchen despite that their official hours is 8 pm to close. That's for their liver and onions it was savory and delicious with a lot of the sauce I ordered it with rice you could have it with bacon but that sounds gross. I finished it off with a delicious tapioca pudding with whipped cream and that was good too. For the price and the quality yeah it is worth it but you could come here before 7:00 p.m. to be a dining room then you are golden I do recommend coming here again

This is the place that my parents would go to Saturday after Saturday, and during the week. Their…read morefavorite waitress was kind and took extra steps to remember the regulars. Truly extraordinary when the original owners were there. The attitude and operations have shifted. At least twice, the manager/owner has tried to short change from a bill. Acknowledging the action as a "I try to make money" reason. The wait staff has shifted, and the connection between regulars and staff is no longer apparent. Sad for a once staple in the neighborhood.

Tim Tim's Halal Grill

4.3

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Food is very good best Mexican food and burgers are huge…read moreTacos are great and so is burger and sandwich Fish was the highlight Average fries Good service Small space Small tables

Will be my final update as I am pretty sure the cashier purposely forgets my order, maybe hit a…read morenerve with my previous reviews. I ordered online this time, and after the last two experiences it honestly was my fault coming back. Placed the order at 9:10 got inside at 9:20pm, showed the cashier my order, and she just nodded her head. 20 minutes go by, people who ordered AFTER me in the restaurant had received their orders. I go to the cashier and I'm like is my order ready? She looks at the cooks and it seemed like they didn't even start getting it ready. They started rushing to work on it. At this point, I give up. That cashier girl with the glasses has a terrible attitude. Can't give this place my business or recommend it ever again. Straight garbage attitude.

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