Was promised a refund for a not as good experience, then I was ghosted. Sent reply to the below 4/18. Followed up 4/23. Nada. On Apr 17, 2025, at 8:06PM, Giovanna wrote: Thank you so much for taking the time to share your recent experience with us. We sincerely apologize for the disappointment during your visit on 4/13, especially after such a positive first impression. We completely understand how frustrating it must have been to come in excited for a favorite item--only to find it unavailable without proper communication from our team. You're absolutely right, those sidewinder fries are a guest favorite, and we should've been more proactive in letting you know they were out before the order was placed. We're addressing this with our staff to ensure better communication moving forward and to avoid similar situations for other guests. We will be issuing a refund for the fries, second order of kid's pasta and your husband's sandwich and we'd also like to send you a gift card so we can hopefully have the chance to make it up to you on a future visit. We're committed to doing better and truly appreciate your honest feedback--it helps us improve. Thank you again for giving us the opportunity to make things right. We hope to welcome you and your family back soon for a much better experience. Customer Service, Rockwood On Thu, Apr 17, 2025 at 2:48PM Squarespace wrote: Sent via form submission from Rockwood VA Name: Email: Subject: Disappointing visit Message: Backstory.... A few weeks back, we visited and enjoyed it. Our family recently discovered helicopter/sidewinder fries so when we saw them come with a couple of the orders, we were excited to have a place to get these from. Fast forward to 4/13. We came back for dinner because my daughter wanted the special fries. She ordered the kids butter noodles with an extra side of fries since they don't come with the noodles. I ordered a sandwich expecting these fries. When the food was delivered, they were regular. I told the server the whole reason we came was for the special fries. She said the kitchen had just run out 5 minutes beforehand. She left it at that and walked away. My daughter did not like or eat her fries. We paid extra for nothing. Because she didn't have fries to eat, we ended up ordering a second bowl of noodles because she was still hungry. My husband's dish upset his stomach. My son barely ate any of his chicken tenders. He's not the pickiest so that was unusual. All around disappointed in the experience this time and confused why we paid for fries that weren't what we were expecting. In hindsight, we should have had them taken back. Thought you should know so perhaps some coaching may help other guests in the future. Check 262 4/13/25 7:16pm read more

I went with my girlfriend and her husband for Mother's Day buffet brunch! I normally don't do buffets just because I over eat, eat things that I'm not supposed to and waste food by trying things and not liking it. The coffee was good and some of the food was good and the Mother's Day drink specials were tasty. The service was decent, the ambience was as expected. Not sure if I would pick this place again just because it was just OK. read more

The manager contacted me and apologized, which I appreciate. She also offered to compensate me for the poor sandwich. Fair enough - I will be happy to try again and hope to have an improved experience. read more

Great restaurant and bar to spend time with old friends and watch the game. Service is always very friendly.

Yeah, no. We came here based on the generally positive Yelp reviews, but I can't agree with the crowd on this one. The food was nothing special, and the service / experience was special only in the bad way. Rockwood was a miss. The red flags were there from the start. On Sundays, "brunch" means that the menu consists of only four items (wings, a cheeseburger, a chicken sandwich, and a salad), if you don't want a buffet. We began by asking for a drink menu, and the server was like "I don't know, those are hard to find." So we apparently immediately annoyed our server by asking for a precious resource. If only the restaurant had some way to remedy this scarcity. If only there was some way for them to communicate to customers how they could order the most profitable items on offer. Perhaps someday a solution will present itself. (We did, BTW, eventually get a drink menu, but a tap list was not to be found, nor were beers mentioned). Perhaps most impressively, Rockwood managed to make a mistake with every single thing that was ordered. I ordered a small OBH beer, and a large one arrived (we were also charged for a large). Our wings and chicken sandwich came at the same time (wings without bleu cheese and chicken sandwich with fries instead of tots), and it was maybe another 20 minutes before the burger came. Was the chicken sandwich early, or the burger late? A riddle for the ages. Overall, the food was . . . OK? It's really caloric, but not all that tasty. The wings were maybe the best of the lot, but we left a lot over. The chicken on the sandwich was soggy and sad, and the burger fell apart on arrival. Overall, the food just wasn't worth the calories. Getting the check and paying also took forever. Eventually, I just just the QR and paid using Apple Pay. Maybe that's what they would prefer for you to do. The vibe here is loud sports bar. I think they intended the place to have an upscale feel. But the staff were clearly overtaxed, and a lot of customers were looking around for drinks or other assistance. It didn't feel super clean. But, Rockwood definitely wanted you to know that Mike Cordero, the owner, is doing very well. There's a very informative display upfront to let you know that Mike is very successful. read more

The customer service here is absolutely awesome. Our server truly made us feel welcome and was super friendly. We started by ordering an Orange Crush for me and the Mango Coconut Margarita for my SO. Both were pretty good and I decided to order a grapefruit crush, which was not the best unfortunately. I asked to see if i could replace it, and our server said no problem. I got the mango coconut margarita and it was great. For the food, we got their nachos with ground beef and sweet potato fries. Both items were fine, with the nachos having ample toppings and meat, while the sweet potatoes were perfectly cooked. When the bill came, I saw I was charged for the grapefruit crush which I thought would be waived since I got it replaced (only took a sip), but alas it was still there. But I didn't want to inconvenience our server so I didn't bring it up. Other than that issue, I had a great time here and would definitely recommend it. Definitely want to try their entrees next time. read more

Rockwood - Nachos - Sports Bars Near Me - Gainesville, Virginia

Amazing food! Excellent service! Atmosphere was great...we're a family of 7 and all of us were taken care of. prices were a bit high but that's not a deterrent read more

Second time this week! The food is excellent everything is great you walk in you smell the charbroil it was the steaks and the chicken. This place gets overlooked because the outside does not stand out and catch your eye. it is such a great place to eat at. Everything I've had it's been really good it's a fun atmosphere, there are trivia nights at its most fun when busy. The bar is in the center plenty of space to sit indoors in an out as well. The nachos are a great meal for 2 to 4 depending upon your eating. Quantity is big. Custom drinks great Mojito's. A very nice sports bar close to shopping and it stays open late for those who want to watch a game listen to music or get together with buddies. read more

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No thanks. We walked in around 2:30pm. Menu was short. No appetizers. I asked if this was all there was. Waitress said I'll bring you the entree menu but most items aren't available until the evening. We ordered the nachos. Under $12 which I appreciated. They were pretty good. Fresh jalapeños and guacamole. They weren't stacked which is great. This means all chips should have ingredients on them. And they did. I ordered the fish filet sandwich. Grouper. I knew as soon as I saw it that it was a no go. The coleslaw was on the sandwich and piled high so already needing napkins.. I don't like that. Then the fish itself was similar to the Fords Fish Shack fish sandwich where it just falls apart and no flavor. Just oily and literally sagging apert off the bun. No salt. No seasonings. Coleslaw might have been nice as a side but on the sandwich, it made the meal a waste of money. I left the bread and coleslaw on the plate and picked off the fish here and there. French fries were ok... little soggy. If suggested I would prob come back to try something else but I wouldn't recommend. *By the way, the place is SO loud! At 2pm? I can't stand to yell through a conversation when I eat. It was bad. *One great thing to add - is our waitress was so extremely nice and smiley. I really enjoyed her personality. read more

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I ate their yesterday on 08/09/2023. I had their Cuban sandwich with fries and a side of Mac and Cheese. The Cuban was very tasty. According to the menu, pork belly is supposed to be on the sandwich. There was no pork belly on that sandwich! The fries were very tasty. The Mac and Cheese was very creamy, delicious. Overall a very good meal. read more

Absolutely love trivia night every tuesday at Rockwood, Neil is our absolute favorite bartender, best drinks ever! ask him for a lemon drop shot, you won't be disappointed! read more

Service was very condescending. I wouldn't recommend having a party or get together here. Female waitress seemed stressed out and treated us with disrespect. read more

Food was very good and the waitstaff was outstanding! Had a smash burger and salad and their special fries that were very tasty! Will be one of our new favs! And this was Mother's Day evening when most restaurants were slammed. read more

Not impressed! My girlfriend and I ordered some fried calamari and fajitas. Everything was just so overpriced for the quality of the food. There was nothing amazing about this place to justify their prices. I could have gotten the same meal at apple bees for half the price. To be fair the calamari was good but the steak fajitas was so underwhelming that I did not bother to take a picture of it. read more

Rockwood - Fried Calamari and Zucchini - Sports Bars Near Me - Gainesville, Virginia

Evidently Rockwood is the place to be!!!!! This place was packed on a Saturday evening and I can see why!!! As soon as you walk in the door the atmosphere draws you in. There's a vibe in the air that's unmistakable. It just happened to be a game day as well so the bar, all be it big was packed with people having a great time!! The best part, no seat is a bad seat because there are tv's everywhere so you never miss a play!! The interior is on the upscale end for what is supposed to be a sports bar/pub. There is plenty of table seating, bar seating and outdoor seating. The weather happened to be on the warmer side for January so the side doors were open and cornhole was ready for the playing. Our server greeted us shortly after were we seated and took our drink orders. The drinks are a little pricey. I went with the Summer Peach (I think) and it delivered in taste. A refreshing peachy combo that matched the warmer weather of the day. For eats, I got the Rockwood and boy did it rock my taste buds and over satisfied my burger craving was having. The burger was super meaty serving up 1/2 pound of juicy angus beef, nestled on top of an onion jam (which was fabulous) and then topped with candied bacon, melted provolone cheese, pickled fresno peppers that added a hint of spiciness, lettuce, you know for greenery, a tomato and a creamy garlic aioli!!! Is your mouth watering yet? It should be! The burger was great and cooked to a medium well as requested. The burger was served with sidewinder fries which are fantastic!! Besides being pipping hot, whatever the seasoning is on the fries is what makes them memorable, dipped in barbecue sauce because you know I'm not that into ketchup and it's a win win!! The service was good! Our server checked in often and made sure we had everything we needed and came back twice to make sure the food was meeting or expectations along the way. read more

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So the good first, sat at the bar, the bartender was lovely and the drinks were good. Here's the bad, the food was terrible. We ordered the steak egg rolls and they were awful. We decided to play it safe next and order mozzarella sticks. 2 of the 8 tiny mozzarella sticks actually had cheese in them. The rest were hallow or had a slight bit of cheese coating the inside, but not filled. They also took an astronomical amount of time to come out, like close to 30 minutes. Do not go here to eat. read more

I've come here a handful of times & each time it was a great experience! The service was fast and they have good happy hour options as well as lots of local beers. We started with loaded tots, it was exactly as advertised & delicious. Crispy tots, bacon, cheese, all the good stuff! It is a good amount for a happy hour app. I had the shaved prime rib sandwich and switched out the fries for Brussels since we started with the loaded tots. The Brussels weren't crispy like I'm used to, but it was still flavorful. I think they probably sauté them rather than frying them like a lot of other places. The Au jus that came with the sandwich tasted more like soy sauce than I'm used to but it was still enjoyable. I also of course had a bite of my husband's chicken sandwich and I was impressed. It was really flavorful but not super hot. I would ask for more hot sauce if you want it spicy. Both of the sandwiches are hearty sizes so we each had leftovers. I was absolutely full and pleased with our choices. We will definitely come back here for another date night. It looks like they have a great brunch too! read more

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TL;DR: Good food, good service, lots of TVs, so good for a game day hangout When this place first opened, I had been here once before for drinks at the bar and some bar bites. The drinks were expensive, but so delicious, and the food was pretty good! I finally got a chance to try this place for dinner. It was late on a Thursday night, and there were a decent amount of people eating, drinking, and watching the games. After reading a lot of the reviews, I told myself going in, not to be surprised if the service was bad. Maybe I just got really lucky, but our server (Brian) was awesome. He was friendly, attentive, and just overall great! No complaints here with the service. FOOD: Calamari: Plate is pooled with half marinara and half spicy mustard. I'm usually not a fan of either, but both of these sauces were so yummy French onion soup: Really really enjoyed this soup. But if you don't like your food as salty, then this is not for you Fish and chips: I love side winder fries! The fish could have been a little crispier, but still good Wings: Got Parmesan garlic and Asian chili? don't remember. Both were good! Overall, it is a little expensive, but it is still a good place for a date night or to come watch the game and get some drinks! read more

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The food was excellent. I got the short rib stroganoff and it was excellent! Our server, Aiden, was on top of the game bring water and refills to us without me every thinking about! Super happy and friendly! Highly recomend! read more

This place used to be our "go-to," but they got a new chef, and she took everything off the menu our kids loved, i.e., Bavarian pretzel and tater tots. The calamari plate isn't as good. No more Hot Nashville. It's just a disappointment now. read more

Service was not great at first. It's almost like they didn't even want anyone there. Management might need to give people a talk and remind them that customers are who keep the place open. Food was very very average. Would not go back read more

Fantastic Late Night Restaurant Find!! A group of us were hanging out in this town overnight after a local concert and this place was absolutely perfect! The atmosphere was perfect!! Sporty Chic. Wide open and airy. Plenty of seating options from high top to bar to table to outdoor seating. Collectively we ordered. Spicy Lemon Pepper Wings Garlic Parmesan Wings Sweet Punch (Smirnoff Citrus, Smirnoff Raspberry, Cranberry Juice, Lemonade, Raspberry Puree & Sugar) Summer Delight Lemonade (Hennessy V.S.O.P. Privilege, St. Germain, Simple Syrup, Fresh Lemon Juice Topped W Sprite & Lemon Wheel Garnish) Each and everything was magnificent !! I will definitely visit this place again while in Bristow, VA !! read more

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Drinks were amazing. Ordered the seafood stew that was bland, but they replaced with the smash burger which was delicious. read more

Rockwood - Lavish Lavender Spritz - Sports Bars Near Me - Gainesville, Virginia

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Hey humans- This time i was in Gainesville, Virginia digging up some holes! Somehow, this ended up being the first place i ate at while in town. Although this wasnt a choice made by me, it was in walking distance from the hotel. So naturally thats how things go. From the start this place sucked. No one was at the door so we just stood there for a few minutes waiting to see if we needed to sit ourselves or if someone would seat us. Anyway, they eventually come and lead us to a table. The inside of this place is similar to and Al House. Like a sports bar type of place. As for our food- very bland in general. My coworker got a platter of calamari and fried zucchini. Literally tasted like nothing. Waste of money tbh. I got a salad with salmon on top. It cost over $20, which would be fine if it actually tasted good. And very skimpy portion of salmon. I forget what my other coworkers got, but they werent very happy either. The server was nice, but damn this place really sucked. And overpriced for what u actually get. read more

Super enjoyed the prompt and attentive waitstaff when 13 co workers recently had an early lunch recently. I had the Cobb salad but forgot to mention my pepper food allergy and the chicken had been marinated in red pepper. That was my fault. Plus, the food took 55 mins for all of us to be served, so we were gone from the office for 2 + hours. Everyone else enjoyed their food and it remains a favorite place for all of us to choose year after year! read more

Rockwood - COBB SALAD with chicken + Sweet Potato fries + ice tea - Sports Bars Near Me - Gainesville, Virginia

My friend and I dined at Rockwood on a sunny Sunday evening. We sat inside (allergies) and appreciated the clean interior and fully masked staff. Menus were available via QR code. They didn't have any specials. I had a black Cherry mule which was very refreshing. For my entree I had the butternut squash salad with grilled shrimp and balsamic vinaigrette. The salad was delicious- a great mix of flavors. I'm glad I added the shrimp as it was lighter on squash than I expected given it was in the name. I took 1/2 home to save room for the coffee cake with Carmel syrup for dessert. It was very basic dessert but thoroughly enjoyable. My friend had a glass of wine, French onion soup, and fish tacos. Her food looked yummy. She had ice cream for dessert. Amanda, our waitress, was adorable. Friendly, attentive, and funny. She helped make the meal. My tab was $39 without tip - pretty reasonable. I would definitely go back. read more

The times I've eaten at Rockwood have been hit or miss. The food orders have been ok for the most part. Service up and down. This time was odd. Hubby and I went on a Sunday football night around 7:15. We got seated. The restaurant was over half full and the service was slow. A young server took our drink order. She had so much trouble opening the bottle of wine that hubby offered to do it. She poured us a glass, hubby said I think we're ready to order. She nodded, smiled then disappeared! After waiting about 25 minutes, I said, gee we could just leave and no one would miss us. But we didn't. We waved down another server who was busy but very accommodating. We ordered fish and chips and a cuban sandwich. The order came out fairly soon. The Cuban was delicious, perfect combo of ham and pork and pickles and hot cheese. Just yummy. Fries were good too and hot. Fish and chips, the same. But then we were waiting on the check. Had to flag someone again and our original server came back to give us the bill! We were about the last people in the place and the games were done. Just strange. Incidentally, Rockwood: you only offer one chardonnay by the bottle. Not a very good one either. Please think about including more choices. read more

Rockwood - Cuban Sandwich - Sports Bars Near Me - Gainesville, Virginia

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My girl, Stephanie, is the best server ever! Great food and drink and service! Always look forward to coming here and relaxing after a stressful day at work ;) read more

I really enjoyed our first experience here! My baby and I enjoyed the food very much. The service was quick and prompt and the menu looked delicious. We enjoyed the nachos with grilled chicken, the Bavarian pretzel and the butternut squash salad. The prices ranged from $12-$15 for each thing we ordered, but the portions were huge. We had tons of leftovers! The ambiance was pretty average for a sports bar. I would come back to try their dinner and brunch menus. read more

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The food was hands down AMAZING. The location's great. The outside seating was to die for, it was so cool with the breeze when we're were there. Loved the vines and the flowers. Our waitress was so sweet and helped us pick great food! You have to try their Tex Mex egg rolls!! Drinks were fantabulous, and the kids meal came out so cute!! The price is great, the food quality was top notch! Thanks so much! read more

Rockwood - Watermelon Moscow Mule - Sports Bars Near Me - Gainesville, Virginia

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I've visited Rockwood a couple of times now. Both times it was sort of an organized chaos - which is to say both times it was very noisy and busy in the restaurant. The first time I visited, I came in for dinner. I sat at the end of the bar near the food expediting area and ordered their nachos and an ale. The quantity/size of the Nacho was substantial. It was way more food than I could eat. I commented to the bartender that they should advise folks who order this - what they are getting into. That order could have fed 2-3 people! The second visit was on a Sunday morning. They have a Brunch Buffet going on - with lots of food options, including an omelette station. I went for an omelette stuffed with lots of veggies. There was also biscuits with sausage gravy. Unfortunately, they have already ladled a thin layer of sausage gravy over the biscuits, making them soggy. A number of non-breakfast foods are available as part of the Brunch Buffet. Rockwood has large flat panel HD TV's all over the place. I can never actually hear the game - due to how noisy it is. Next time I plan to try the Buffalo chicken wings. #Rockwood read more

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I was waiting on writing this review cause I still was embracing the awesome experience I had from the moment I walked in to the moment I walked out. Got there a busy Sunday morning, around 11:50am for brunch. There were a lot of people waiting but mostly groups of 3 or more, it was only 2 of us, so we were able to be accommodated without a wait. Our server greeted us, gave us some lunch menus to which we expressed the reason we were there, to try out the acclaimed and famous brunch buffet. He was excited to show us the stations, walking us through and pointing out everything: omelette station, taco station, carving station, pasta station, breads station, and on and on and on and dessert station and Bloody Mary station and while walking through, my mouth was getting watery by the second. Where to start?! Was my question! Every single presented serving looked and tasted delicious. I had some amazing fall-off-the-bone ribs, yummy meatballs, salmon, prime rib with au jus. Let me just say, I ate and ate and went for seconds and thirds. Even had a made-to- order omelette with ham but added also some bacon and sausage on the side. I did stay away from the carbs, to allow to eat more of the yummy stuff, that for me is protein. But my friend had the jambalaya, fried chicken, bagels with locks, capers and cream cheese, some carbonara pasta and some home fried potatoes. He was "humming, his oh so good anthem" while eating, he loved it all as well. Our server made sure he kept our glasses of water full. Then came, "let's leave space for dessert". I really enjoyed the creme brûlée and melon pieces, perfect amount. While he had the rice pudding, tres leches cheesecake and strawberries and marshmallow dipped in a chocolate fountain. "Oh what a treat was". The environment was pleasant, personnel attentive as we had a few of the managers coming around checking as well. The bathrooms are classy and super clean. And the food stations were stocked at all times. I highly recommend trying it out, specially for brunch where you get the worth in food for your money. I drove 50 mins and will do it all over again soon, after I lose the 5 lbs I gained that memorable Sunday for brunch! read more

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Decent food but not for that price, this Restaurant/Bar is extremely over priced and on slow nights still somehow has slow service? Me and my friend went and were there go over 1 hour 30 minutes, we were the only ones there and we weren't lingering.... read more

We love Neil !!!!!!!!!!! I will come every Tuesday if he is working he is the best !! I had such a great time and I spent so much money with him read more

I was in town for a Celebration of Life and this was within walking distance of my hotel but it is a true gem! Atmosphere is typical "Americana bar" however the people and food set this place apart. If you're flying solo sit at the bar and if CJ is working you'll have a phenomenal experience! CJ was super attentive even though it was an almost full bar. He recommended the smash burger and it was the perfect mix of crispy, juicy, and flavor. The fries were seasoned well and plentiful but the star was the OG smash burger. I watched plate after plate being delivered to guests; met with smiles and people sharing bites of what they had ordered. I had every intention of trying a new restaurant the next day but I found myself wanting to chat with CJ and try more of Rockwood's menu. I went back to Rockwood's but because I had a long drive the next day I couldn't get the smash burger. I got the Tex Mex Eggrolls - fantastic! I also had a wonderful little shot/drink that CJ recommended and it was amazing! The food is fresh, delicious, and plentiful and if CJ recommends something, you can't go wrong!! 11/10 I wish this place was near me! read more

ZERO stars is more like it!! Their online menu isn't the same as the menu in the restaurant, they don't have a fully stocked bar, every single ranch dip that we got tasted different, all entrees were brought out at separate times and I saved the best for last - We were served PARTIALLY cooked chicken; RAW spots throughout!! Only positive experience was that our meal was comped. Do NOT waste your time or money; establishment needs the health dept to stop by because this is absolutely disgusting and unacceptable. And yes, our meal was comped but that STILL doesn't make it right that you served undercooked meat. Also, still haven't heard back from the owners and it's been 2 days. I won't hold my breath. Be prepared for a lawsuit! I wonder when Giovanna B., the business owner, will reach out to me. Going on over a week and NOT A CALL BACK. I will keep updating this review, week by week, so keep tuned! AFTER 2 WEEKS of not even a call back, this restaurant has been reported to the Health Department and BBB. AVOID AT ALL COSTS. read more

The food here is consistent however the service is not so much, that's why I'm giving 4 stars. To highlight some of the dishes here: pasta dishes, burger, salmon and salad are some of the delicious items on the menu i highly recommend. read more

My family and I had eaten here once before when they advertised buffet brunch that was NOT being served. Do NOT call for Easter Brunch. I was told it is 40 dollars per person AND you have a timer set, AT YOUR TABLE ONCE YOU ARE SEATED. It is for an hour. You must be done eating in an HOUR. Canceled my reservation so others who are willing to be pushed out can have our table. I will not be helping the money grabbing owners. Good luck to the rest of you. read more

Live bands every Saturday night, friendly bartenders and good crowd. Lively place to be in the suburbs. Come for their live music, solid beers on tap and good-looking crowd. The place to be on a weekend night livin' in the 'burbs! read more

Rockwood - Live band - Sports Bars Near Me - Gainesville, Virginia

Tried Rockwood for the first time last week. Staff was friendly and attentive. The interior is nice, but nothing really made it stand out to me. The menu had a nice variety of items, but I was in the mood for a salad. I chose the Southwest Chicken Salad. It was fine, but I would have liked a piece of chicken on top versus a few cubed pieces. That aside, the salad was well dressed and had a nice variety of toppings. I might try it again if I am in the area again. read more