Great imaginative foods, top- notch service and authentic ambiance. Even Italian sushi!

Ate there Thursday night. (5-28-26) Very loud. Impossible to converse with the 6 others at the table. And they served rolls!?! Why not sliced Italian bread? Food was good, not spectacular, and nicely presented. Service was a little spotty. Two of us at the table were bumped into by servers. Honestly not sure we will go again. read more

Their food is delicious! Highly recommend! I haven't disliked anything I have tried so far.

Rocco's was a great experience overall! We came with a large group for a friend's celebration, and despite how busy they were, we had a really nice time. The food was definitely the highlight. I ordered the Shrimp Fra Diavola with a Greek salad, and both were delicious. The shrimp were large and perfectly cooked, the sauce had a great spicy tomato flavor, and the portion was generous enough that I had leftovers (which were just as good the next day!). I also appreciated that the salad was fresh and well-prepared. Service was the only hiccup. The restaurant was packed, and our server seemed overwhelmed. We waited quite a while for drinks, and by the time someone came back around, our food had already arrived, so we ended up skipping them altogether. We also had to ask for things like Parmesan cheese and pepper, but we made the best of it and could tell the staff was doing their best under the circumstances. The atmosphere was lively and perfect for groups. They even accommodated our party in a private room, which made celebrating together really enjoyable. Overall, I would absolutely come back. Great food, generous portions, and a fun atmosphere. Next time I'll probably just go on a less busy evening so I can fully enjoy the service too, oh and ask for Jackie! read more

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Stopped in for lunch with my husband and mother in law. The decor is beautiful and really embraces the old school Italian vibe. We got here around 2 so not busy at all but took about 5 minutes before the hostess came back to check us in for our reservation as well as the waitress. She was attentive and very friendly. One odd thing that even the table next to us asked was that when our waters were refilled, it was clearly super yellow (like Gatorade) and without acknowledging that it clearly was not water no mention until we asked. She did promptly go back and figured out that it may have been mixed with the lemonade on tap. I then over heard the table behind us ask the same thing. Now let's talk food. Portion and price, excellent. I opted for the feast of seven fishes pasta dish and it was overwhelming loaded with all sorts of seafood. The taste while good was overly salty. The salt lingered primarily on the pasta so the seafood definitely helped cut the saltiness a bit. My husband got the Sunday gravy rigatoni and he said it was good but also salty. I would definitely like to check this spot once more as the menu offers such a great selection. read more

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Ŵe visited yesterday afternoon and there were a few other parties already there, the ambiance was just fine, suiting a beautiful, elegant, moment in history. You'll have to see for yourself. As soon as you enter and look to the back of the 1st room, you'll see old black and white movies playing without sound across the full back wall. A nice touch connecting the not too distant past in the evoultion of decor. Generally speaking, there was background music playing in the dining rooms, the volume was ok The dining rooms and bar were on the low side of lighting ...for that they had mini table lamps if you need extra lighting. The menu had a lot of thought put into it and was well arranged. The descriptions of every dish was easily undérstood. There was a page of specials, which were mainly soup and salads, we were interested in something heartier. I ordered the Crazy Alfredo pasta and they were willing to make personaized changes to it. I requested no broccoli and not spicy. Also chañged the linguini pasta to penne. It was very rich and loaded with meat. My husband enjoyed the Italian coldcut sub, it was massive and half came home, as did my pasta dish. One thing intriged me and that was a gentleman who òrdéred a whole lobster, I was filled with envy. He enjoyed it, no doubt. The service was the tops, attentive but not overdone, plus there was teamwork which is always appreciated, Meal prices were not that bad, it was a treat out of time and a welcome change from fast food. We will definately come back. read more

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TL;DR: Excellent casual sit-down addition to Towson with a modern, high-end downtown vibe and bold, elevated twists on classic Italian dishes. Rocco's Italian is a fantastic new addition to Towson, taking over the old Glory Days Grill spot. It is a great casual sit-down restaurant with a modern flare, which is a breath of fresh air for an area that is mostly fast casual. Both the exterior and interior have seen major renovations, making it feel like a nice restaurant that belongs downtown or in DC, let alone Towson. My table of 3 dined for Saturday lunch to a half-filled dining room. The menu brings a modern flare, straying from safe, classic American-Italian for some bolder flavors and interesting ingredients. They have your classic dishes, but they also have jazzed-up renditions making this not your Nonna's normal Italian restaurant, like an Italian Sushi roll, cheesy truffle garlic bread, and a Feast of Seven Fishes pasta dish. Since we had literal feasts coming, we opted out of appetizers and decided to just have the free bread service, which is warm Italian loaves served with EVOO and balsamic dipping sauce. For mains, we tried the Rigatoni Sunday Gravy, which is a ragu with short ribs, meatballs, Italian sausage, beef braciole, and ricotta, the classic veal marsala, and the Feast of Seven Fishes, which comes with mussels, lobster tail, calamari, clams, gulf shrimp, jumbo lump crab, and octopus in a red sauce with linguini. Entrees came in decent time and were served hot. All 3 were great with decent portion sizes. One minor knock was that the salt level on the Feast of Seven Fishes was noticeably higher than normal, and the beef braciole in the rigatoni was a bit overcooked and dry. That said, the flavors of all 3 were great and definitely satisfying. We were celebrating that day, so the staff really took care of us and fulfilled my request for a candle on our dessert. We got the sabayon fragole, which was the perfect light end to a hearty meal. Overall, even with a few minor hiccups with the mains, we were very happy with our experience and will absolutely give them another try! read more

Rocco's - Wine Bars Near Me - Towson, Maryland

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We had lunch and dinner at Rocco's on consecutive Fridays. Our biggest problems were making the reservations and having them being honored when we arrived. It took us three phone calls before we finally called the carry out number to make a reservation for lunch and dinner. On both dates, our requested table was not available when we arrived at our requested times - very disappointing and not at all professional. We did have the opportunity to discuss this with the manager, Jim. He told us they are now on Open Table - thankfully. Our server, Tony, took excellent care of us at our lunch. They always start you off with warm rolls and a dish of seasoned olive oil. We enjoyed the Cream of Crab soup, side order of 3 meatballs, Penne Primavera and a Grilled Chicken Primo Sandwich. On our dinner reservation, after we were seated for a while we had to ask where our server was, as no one came to take care of us. Nikki came over and did apologize that no one told her we had been seated. She immediately took our drink orders and brought the freshly baked rolls and olive oil to the table. She was a delight - very personable and attentive. The restaurant was full and really noisy. We did talk with Jim about this as well. Noise for us is the killer for a restaurant. Even our server said she has trouble hearing the guests when taking their orders - now that is really bad! Rocco's does serve up delicious food. We enjoyed Lasagna, Chicken Francese with Angel Hair pasta, Fettuccine Bolognese, and a Beet & Goat Cheese salad. Everything was freshly prepared and beautifully presented. The portions were very generous. We will certainly come again, but not in the evening but for lunch, because of the noise. read more

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I had the taste for something delicious, different & without me dirtying up my own dishes. That's when I thought about Rocco's! I've been anticipating the opening of this restaurant for months! I perused the menu and decided upon the creamy fettuccine bolognese. I wasn't sure exaaaactly what to expect, but I thought I'd give it a try. I called my order in and the server had it ready at the counter. This location used to be a Glory Days restaurant. The inside looks very warm and inviting. I definitely will return to eat inside. I cannot describe how awesome it is to have a nice & cozy Italian restaurant in the neighborhood! It's been looong overdue! It took maybe about twenty minutes from ordering to my arrival at the restaurant & my food was still nice and hot. Once I got home, I opened the bag and was welcomed by a handsomely portioned bowl of delicious pasta. The sauce wasn't overly heavy- with just enough cream added to make its presence known. The meat was flavorful and tasty. The pasta was fresh- you could tell it was NOT boxed pasta. Tender and yummy. I added a bit of my own seasonings, but this dish was absolutely delectable! It came with a sweet roll and a small cup of a balsamic/olive oil/roasted garlic dip-very nice touch. I. Ate. EVERYTHING! Rocco's exceeded my expectations and I will most definitely return very soon! Fair prices, nice portions and a seemingly comfortable atmosphere- what more could you ask for?! Welcome to the neighborhood! read more

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Rossco's absolutely exceeded the hype. We finally went yesterday after hearing so much about it since opening, and everything was fantastic. The food was incredible, the atmosphere was perfection, and honestly knowing what the space used to look like makes the transformation even more impressive. The service was also top tier. We had Bee and she was amazing and super personable, attentive, and just made the experience even better. My boyfriend even complimented her service, which says a lot because he is usually very neutral about those things Definitely worth checking out. We'll absolutely be back. read more

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Wonderful experience...but do make a reservation! (You can do it online.) We were seated after about 16 minutes, which was close enough to the "10 to 15" they stated when I walked in and had a reservation. The wait without a reservation was over an hour, so make sure you are not a walk-in. First off, everybody who works here is really friendly and welcoming. When we were seated we got some bread, which was sooo soft inside with a nice crisp outside. It came with EVOO and balsamic with some garlic for dipping. The dip was tasty and the bread was filling. We got the Burrata 3 Tomatoes appetizer, which was a giant pile of burrata (encased in standard mozz from what I can tell) and 3 typed of tomatoes: fresh cherry tomatoes, slices of beefsteak tomatoes, and San Marzano (or similar) tomatoes that were roasted. It is drizzled in balsamic. This was perfect. It is served cold and I think over the summer I will need to come and have it again on a hot day. The mixture of flavors from the different tomatoes and the balsamic really balances well with the cheese. Finally, I had gnocchi. You can have it prepared 4 different ways. I chose bolognese. I got a decent sized plate of gnocchi with a delectable bolognese sauce, served with a huge top from a basil plant in the center. This hit it out of the park for me. I would not ask for anything to be different on this dish. The restaurant has good lighting...it is not too bright or too dark. The owners/managers were actively walking around and helping clear tables, as well as visiting tables and talking to customers. read more

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We took a chance and tried, was incredible. The ambiance was great, food was delicious and staff was very friendly.

The old Good Times has been transformed into an Italian restaurant with dark ambiance and French posters. A black and white film was playing in one dining room which was interesting. The staff was incredible! The manager help us find seating in the crowded bar and restaurant. Our waiter was very friendly and knowledgeable, making wonderful recommendations. Food was very good. We will definitely return! read more

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This was my first time trying this restaurant after leaving a doctor's appointment, and I'm honestly glad I stopped in. The Caesar salad was fresh, crisp, and one of the better salads I've had in a while. The lettuce was cold and crunchy, the croutons still had texture, and the dressing had a really nice balance without being too heavy. It tasted fresh and well made. The shrimp Alfredo was definitely the highlight for me. The pasta was cooked perfectly, the sauce was creamy and flavorful without being greasy, and the shrimp were tender and seasoned well. The only thing I would've changed is that the Alfredo needed just a little more salt to fully bring all the flavors together, but overall it was still really good. The portion size was satisfying, and everything tasted fresh and made to order. Overall, this ended up being a really nice first experience. Good food, good portions, and I'd definitely come back again. read more

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Had such a fun time at Rocco's! My friends and I went for their happy hour deal and stayed for dinner service. The service was great! Everyone was friendly. The food was delicious and fresh tasting. Presentations of the cocktails and appetizers were lovely! The restaurant was really beautiful and clean! Can't wait to go back! read more

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Solid dining experience. Tasty. Was a packed Saturday night but service was able to keep pace and did well. We were a party of 5 celebrating college graduation and were not disappointed. All 3 appetizers were thumbs up (bruschetta, shrimp scampi toast, and fried calamari) and everyone enjoyed their meals (lasagna to alfredo to chicken francese). Be aware, it is very loud (patron conversation, not superfluous music). But Rocco's apparent popularity speaks volumes. I look forward to going back maybe for a quieter lunch. read more

We've now been Rocco's twice. The service is exceptional or at least it was when we went both times. We had the calamari which was breaded and fried perfectly. I had the spaghetti and meatballs. Tasted great, however, the meatballs were too salty. That's the only issue I had with the entire meal. I highly recommend Rocco's! read more

Finally....fine dining close to Parkville. We live in the Loch Raven & Taylor Avenue area, and there has not been a finer dining eatery in the area for years. Suddenly, Glory Days closed on Joppa Road and what has emerged in its old space, is a truly beautiful restaurant. It is labeled as Classic Italian and it is that , but it is much more than that. It has many seafood dished, a wide variety of soups and salads and hoit and cold apps, along with more westernized food ...chops, steaks, etc. The desserts are picture perfect. The biggest problem with this place is getting in. They have been packed since they opened for good reason. Many folks are return customers (as are we). The prices are in the same area as many areas restaurants but the ambience, the service, the food quality are all a step above. Visit once and you will return,. read more

Our experience at Rocco's was disappointing from the moment we sat down. Our server began the interaction by telling us she had been working since 10:00 AM. While I appreciated her honesty, it immediately raised concerns about staffing and whether employees were being stretched too thin. After we were seated, we waited an unusually long time just to place our order. In fact, a table that was seated approximately 25 minutes after us had already received salads and appetizers before our order was even taken. During the meal, our server would disappear for long stretches of time, often around 20 minutes at a time, making it difficult to get updates or assistance. When she finally took our food order, she asked whether we wanted our daughter's meal brought out first because of how long everything was taking. Later, she admitted that she had forgotten to enter our appetizer order. After telling us our food was being plated, we still waited roughly another 15 minutes before it arrived. When the food finally came out, our daughter's meal was both extremely hot and icy cold at the same time, suggesting it had been heated unevenly. At that point, it was difficult to have confidence in the food quality. I don't fault someone for being tired after working a long shift. If anything, the experience felt like a restaurant struggling with staffing, communication, and execution. Unfortunately, the result was a family dinner marked by long waits, forgotten items, poor communication, and improperly prepared food. read more

First and foremost I was blown away by the service from everyone we encountered in Rocco's. The wait staff was friendly and attentive without being overbearing, and very knowledgeable of the menu. We also had two children with us and they were treated so kindly and respectfully, not talked down to which is our normal experience in most restaurants. And my son was made to feel extra special celebrating his graduation. Huge plus they have a kids menu and gluten free pasta as one member of our group had celiac. We dined for lunch so did not go heavy on appetizers, but would love to come back for dinner and try a bunch of things. The vodka sauce on the veal parm was the shining star of the table, but everything ordered was also delicious. We will be back soon, and hope Rocco's has a lot of success, it has really filled a void in the Towson area. read more

Absolutely perfect for a mother day's luncheon. The waiter absolutely made my mother feel special and shout out to him (older sexy Italian gentleman). He made the event beautiful (as well as the rest of the staff - impeccable) and despite the food being delivered very slowly - Everything was delicious. Ambiance is very cool. Meatballs were to die for. I will be back. read more

My husband and I stopped by tonight hoping for a quick happy hour and dinner since we were short on time. Unfortunately, we ended up leaving after being told that all of the booths and tables were reserved and wouldn't be available until at least 8:00 p.m. It was only 5:00 p.m., and there were numerous empty booths and tables throughout the restaurant. What made the experience more frustrating was that a large party ahead of us did not have a reservation but was accommodated at a table that was reserved for later in the evening. We were not offered the same option, despite only being a party of two. The fact that so many tables were reserved certainly suggests the food is popular, but the inconsistency in how guests were accommodated left a disappointing impression. Based on this experience, I'm not sure we'll be back. read more

I don't know where to start... our servers were fabulous... jerimina and besnick... I hope I got their names correct They were knowledgeable , friendly and very entertaining... for us three goof balls as customers... we all had the best meals Marry me mignon Fettuccini genovese and another pasta with wonderful sausage and other things? We had the cheesy garlic bread as an app... yummy! Half was melted cheese the other half had ricotta Omg... Yum Desserts were custard with fruit and strawberry gelato Everything was perfect!! Lily came to visit us before we left What a sweet beautiful girl;) Ambiance was great... nothing like glory days... looks like a nouveau speakeasy read more

Rocco's - Marry me mignon Fettuccini genovese ? Pasta with sausage and a spicy sauce... not too spicy - Wine Bars Near Me - Towson, Maryland

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Great service outstanding atmosphere but the food was mediocre. It was edible but I've had better at similar prices.

Food - Chicken Marsala - tasty. Reasonable portion. Service - Professional. Team driven. Food Expeditors - Helpful and engaging. Lighting - Too dark. Noise - Too loud. Would go again to see if the experience read more

Food great, ambiance awesome. Staff excellent . Happy hour menu great . Management is present and a Ensures everything is flowing approximately. The location is ideal for community read more

They have redone this space from the previous restaurant and it looks amazing. The decor and ambiance were top notch. The menu provided a healthy variety of classic Italian food and a nice wine selection. Our service was great. Nice, friendly and attentive staff made the dinning experience pleasant. The food was great. We ordered appetizers and 2 entrees. The food was fresh, hot and well prepared. The presentation was nice. I'm definitely returning soon. read more

We eagerly anticipated the opening of Rocco's for months, and decided to visit on their first official night open. It was absolutely everything we could have hoped for and more. We decided to make a reservation ahead of time and were glad we did...it was packed. We got seated upon our arrival, and immediately greeted by our server. Water glasses got filled, drink orders taken and then some amazing bread with roasted garlic, balsamic and evoo dipping oil appeared. Our server, Gerry gave the rundown of some of his favorite menu items and we then perused the menu. I decided on the lasagna and my husband had the chicken piccata. Presentation of both dishes was flawless and they were absolutely delicious. I'm an Italian girl and have eaten an embarrassing amount of lasagna in my lifetime, and let me tell you, this was some of the best lasagna I have ever had. The chicken piccata was divine as well. Decided on tiramisu for dessert and it was legit. We returned again a few days later on a Friday night and they were super busy (again, make a reservation!). We tried the Italian sushi (get it....trust me), then spaghetti and meatballs and cavatelli barese. Both dishes were outstanding and I'm still dreaming about the meatballs. Spumoni Bomba was our dessert choice and it was sinfully good. We've since been back a third time. Yes, it's that good. Thank you, Rocco's for bringing a breath of fresh air to Towson. read more

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I share father's day with my wife's birthday and we went to celebrate both. Food was amazing and ask for Megan Smith you won't regret it. Service was outstanding. I had to the seafood saffron and loved every bite. The calamari was excellent and their Italian sushi is a must!! read more

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The Food and atmosphere was amazing. Was visiting for the weekend. And everything tasted so good. I would fly in and go to restaurant and fly back home. That's how good it was. read more

Rocco's - Stiffed shrimp with Mashed potatoes and asparagus. AND THOSE ARE NOT BOXED! - Wine Bars Near Me - Towson, Maryland

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We went to Rocco's for my birthday, as it was a place I had been wanting to try since it opened. The place looks completely different than it did when it was a Glory Days, which is mostly for the best, although I would say decor is a little all over the place--American black-and-white movies projected in one area, vaguely Middle Eastern wall-paper, pop art-style prints on the walls. The service too is somewhat chaotic--we checked in with two separate hostesses before being seated, and we were told that we had three servers once we were seated. As other reviews have noted, the place gets somewhat noisy, especially when they have bigger groups (we were seated next to a eight-top), which probably means this isn't the place to have a quiet, romantic meal. All of that being said, the food is phenomenal. I had a grilled octopus that was cooked to perfection. My wife and I both had the lobster ravioli for the main course, and it too was excellent--it comes in a cream sauce heavily infused with saffron, and while rich, it was a very pleasant meal. If Rocco's was about 15% cheaper, I'd probably be a frequent guest, but until they work out some kinks, I don't know when I'll be back. read more

We want on a Tuesday for happy hour and dinner. The server was great and the food was okay. The rice in the rice balls had a gummy texture and the spaghetti from the chicken parm was overcooked. The shrimp scampi appetizer had nice large shrimp but it had way too much lemon and not enough garlic, in my opinion. Happy hour prices were good, and the drinks were good, but not sure I'd go back. read more

Nice atmosphere, food was tasty and pleasantly presented. It is somewhat pricey and that brings me to a few things that made the experience less than expected. Our main coruse was served almost immediately after the salad was served making our food a little cold by the time we finished the salad. I asked for butter for my bread and was told they "were out of the tiny packets ". I countered and asked if I could have some from the kitchen's supply and I was again told no. I love pasta with butter bread but I was apparently out of luck. Our dessert was very disappointing. We had the cannoli dip and chips. It came with 6 large dollops of different flavor filling but less than 6 chips for dipping leaving us to eat the filling without chips. The bill was not itemized with a total of $133.00 plus a 20% tip for 2 people having salad, pasta, one glass of wine and a shared dessert. A little more accommodation and attention to detail would have been nice. read more

Despite wanting to wait a while before going back I did, my sister wanted to go for her birthday. I see they took those clams 3 ways off the menu - good because they were bad. This time I ordered pasta. My Shrimp Fra Diavolo had overcooked, tough shrimp and pasta not even at al dente, some parts were still hard. I ate 2 of the 5 shrimp, hoping the 2nd wasn't as tough as the 1st and it was, I just stopped eating them at that point. The waitress asked why I didn't want a to-go box and I told her how tough they were. Her response was "they are so big" (they were normal size and that shouldn't matter in cooking them, like, what??) and I looked at her and said "overcooked". Honestly I should have sent it back with the 1st bite and that's on me because it wasn't taken off the bill. Meatballs were tasty and tender, sauteed spinach was way over-salted this time, last time it desperately needed salt, figure it out. Didn't try my sister's chicken parm or salad but she said they were decent. One waiter told her she could order a side salad with her entree saying definitely the house salad and he thought the caesar too, the one who took our order said she could not and had to get a full size salad but said "they aren't that big". Sooooo, side salad at full size prices. read more

Everything went well from the time we walked in till the time we left Food was fabulous. Waitress was fabulous. Can't say enough will be back again soon. read more

Food was great but the service and general manager were pathetic! Had a reservation and they messed that up!! Then sat us by the kitchen and bathrooms! It's loud and helter skelter commotion everywhere! No one approached us for 10 minutes and when they did is because I flagged a waiter down! Remos of NY just down the road is warm friendly inviting and the food is awesome! Remos is a family owned business and you can tell! Rocco's is too big! Save your money! read more

First time here. Went for bday. It was great. A lot of food and very good. Our waitress was excellent. She used to be a hostess. Knew the menu and she was excellent read more

This would have been our second time there. First time had a great experience. This time- not so. Sat at the bar and for 20 minutes no one even acknowledged our presence. I notes that 2 other couples were offered drinks and menus while we sat there. I decided to say " excuse me" to get a young girl bartenders attention. She replied we're getting around to you- there's only two of us. I'm pretty patient but her rude response, not the least apologetic- had us heading to the doer. A strong no thank you tonight, and not ever again. Blond hair girl with the pony tail- you are one of the rudest bartenders I have ever encountered. I hope management reads this! You may be starting out with a bang- but you won't for long with customer service like this. read more

When we 4 arrived on Wednesday night,the 3-4 hosts were going back and forth about where to seat us(we had reserved a booth in the bar). They were disorganized. The server came, took our drink orders and promised a quick return with drinks and bread. 20 minutes later, we found her again, and she said they were just coming. (Not quite). Then we ordered dinner. 4 dinners came out, but 1 was completely wrong. The server came back and said it would be 5 minutes. After 10 minutes, she said they were kitchen had miscalculated, and they had to get out the frozen shrimp and devein them, so it was taking a bit longer. My husband had to look for a manager to complain. By the time my shrimp dish came, the others had finished and I wanted to leave. i did taste 1 shrimp, but it was chewy. They took it off the bill, and the manager's parting words were that we shouldn't ask for that server when we returned. As if... (She threw the server under the bus.) Possibly the worst restaurant experience ever! read more

Good food and service. A busy place and petty loud but with the stop there. Been there with friends and on our own and enjoyed it both times. read more