The farm is table concept is wonderfully executed; the food was amazing. The service was excellent and the views were to die for. In short, everything was his first class. We enjoyed a delicious brunch for a party at six and look forward to returning soon. Highly recommend the bun-less burger special. read more

Russell's on Lake Ivanhoe - Bar area and entry - American Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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This is a long one. I wish I could give a zero star review. It was our FIRST TIME going to Russel's. This was one of the worst experiences I've had at a restaurant in a really long time. We came and the host was very kind and told us to have a good time. Once we were sat our server came and didn't seem excited to serve us. Our drinks were ordered and we were never asked if we wanted a starter or appetizer. I had to order those with our meal. I ordered the lavender lemonade cocktail- and didn't enjoy the taste at all and asked if could order a different drink- and was told that I could but I would still have to pay for the one I didn't like- weird but okay- so I kept the drink because what the heck? Then our starters came. We had ordered the crispy pork belly and the beef carpaccio. The pork belly was CHARED(see photo) - which on the other reviews didn't look like the norm- but the beef carpaccio was good. Then my sister pulled the bread apart and there was a HAIR inside of it. We then couldn't find our server so we asked another one for the Manager. The manager, "Patrick" who didn't even say his name initially, came over and said "we can bring you another bread..." at this point we were over the experience. It was my sister's birthday and we were not having a good time at all. When we told him we just wanted the check to cover what we had eaten and drank he said "well since the food was fired you have to pay for it" UMM EXCUSE ME but NEVER has that even been something I've ever heard before as someone who has worked in Food Service for years! "But we can box your food up..." The food never touched our table and we ended up having to pay for our ENTIRE MEAL. If you are a POC or just a person in general just avoid this place- its not worth it AT ALL. read more

Based on the reviews I was excited to go everything was clean and organized. Service was good at first but after order was taken seemed to be very slow with checking in. I ordered ribeye steak, the taste was very bland and I asked for medium but received it well done read more

Complimentary parking is a plus. Went for brunch. Solid brunch spot with things done really well. The bottomless mimosas were good and they have an opportunity to mix and match different flavors and combinations of flavors. Nice selections of drinks. I got the breakfast club that was very filling. The bread pudding was delicious and very warm. Classy and casual atmosphere at the same time. I want to come back and experience dinner next. Service was friendly and very calm. read more

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We came here to celebrate a 40th birthday, and the restaurant did a nice job accommodating our large party. The views were beautiful and made for a great setting to celebrate. I ordered the Russell's Royale with Cheese, which had good flavor but could've been a bit juicier. The fries were crispy and tasty, definitely a highlight. Not totally sure the burger was worth the $19 price tag, but overall I enjoyed it. Service was a bit hit or miss. Some servers were attentive, but others not so much. Several of my friends ordered the bottomless mimosas, but with the slower service, I'm not sure they got their money's worth. At one point, our waitress was refilling other tables' waters and didn't even acknowledge me--I had to flag her down just to order a drink. The food and atmosphere were solid, but the service could use some consistency, especially for larger groups. read more

I was looking for a restaurant in this area and selected Russell's. Make a reservation thru Open Door to ensure you are able to secure a table. Valet parking is available in a limited parking lot. Pretty location right off the lake. Large bar area with large dining area. Had table with a view of the lake. On this evening the restaurant was still offering Valentine's Day menu in addition to regular menu. Bread is served however since the restaurant had just opened for the evening it did take awhile to be brought to our table. The Bread was served warm with butter. Ordered: Oysters on the 1/2 shell which are served with a minuet sauce and NOT served with any kind of Cocktail/Hot Sauce or Horseradish. Only one type of Oyster is offered, thankfully the Oysters served this evening were medium sized. Zucchini Fritters ordered with a side of Ranch Dressing which is a bit watery. The Zucchini Fritters were nice golden brown however did have a small burnt taste, I attested to the blackened sesame seeds. Seared Scallops Pappardelle - subbed Broccolini for the pasta. The Scallops needed more seasoning and was suppose to be served with a Garlic Lemon Sauce which was brought to the table 1/2 way thru me eating my scallops and was just dropped off with no explanation so I had no idea what the sauce was for. It seemed I received far more broccolini than necessary. The Butcher's Cut Ribeye 16 oz - subbed Aligot Potatoes for the Seasonal Veggies. The Ribye was ordered medium-rare and came out looking like it was steamed and a lot more rare for my taste. Asked for the Ribeye to be cooked an additional couple of minutes. Our entree's seemed to have taken a longer time to be served then the rest of the diners who all came in together and a couple of tables finished just as we were served. Overall nice location but most likely will not return. read more

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Service, location, and food were all great. Our bartender Harry was super friendly and attentive! Loved his energy We started with the lobster soup (heavenly) the bread service and the pork belly. My only criticism is I wish the pork belly had more of the sauce - maybe tossed in it? Versus crispy pork belly on top of sauce at the bottom of the plate. It definitely needed the sweeter sticky sauce to coat the crispy pork. I could come back just for the lobster soup and bread combo. It's perfect. We sat down at a table overlooking Lake Ivanhoe. If you time it right, you can see a gorgeous sunset! We both got steak - a pepper crusted beef tenderloin and butchers cut ribeye. Both were served with a glaze and mashed potatoes. The cuts of meat were honestly fantastic - my tenderloin was sooo tender it almost melted in your mouth. It was a little under cooked then what I had ordered, but I made due. Now the bread pudding with the caramel whiskey glaze!? Out of this world. Definitely will be coming back for that as well. read more

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This is a must try if you live nearby, just for sake of enjoying the water-front ambience. They have free valet parking and it's a nice area to walk around after dinner and get a cheaper drink. The food is nothing to die for but it's a good quality basic dinner. The service is fine but wouldn't try it more than once with so many other options nearby. read more

Great brunch! Service is excellent. We sat right by the window but it seemed like you can see the lake from anywhere in the restaurant. Decently priced. Bonus - bottomless mimosas! read more

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Amazing service, atmosphere, and food!! I loved the scallops, the zucchini fritters, and the bread pudding. So wonderful!!!! read more

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A great venue to hold an intimate private celebration, reception, company night etc. Wonderful friendly service and professionalism. Attended an intimate wedding celebration and was impressed all around. read more

Russell's on Lake Ivanhoe - American Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Beautiful venue, went for brunch. I feel like this venue is good for group meals. There were only 4 tables filled in the dining area the entire time we were there and it just felt really hard to get timely service. There were long gaps in time between seating us, getting our drink orders, getting our drinks, ordering our food, and receiving our food. Several times during our brunch I found myself or someone in my party looking for the waitress. I ordered an omelette with fries which was good, my husband ordered a bun less burger which he enjoyed as well. I also tried a spicy raspberry margarita which was good heat-wise but lacking in raspberry flavor. I also tried the pineapple Mai tai which I enjoyed. Both drinks were strong in a good way. I'd probably only return for a cocktail in the future and eat somewhere else close by. read more

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This place had so much promise. One simple mistake/laziness happened. I asked for no tomatoes due to an allergy. They brought my food out with tomatoes. I reminded them, they took the food back and brought me my food. Guess what? Tomatoes were in my dish (see picture). Scraping the tomatoes off my pita and returning it to me is so lazy and something a fine dining establishment shouldn't do. I had such high hopes considering the location, the service and the appetizers read more

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Great service from Nick! The food was average. The kitchen was SLOW. I got the sea bass special, which was outrageously overpriced at $55. My mistake for not asking what it cost. Caesar salad was really good, as was the chocolate mousse and crème brûlée. Not a place that I'd say it was so good I need to go back. read more

Everything was super good. The location is good. The restaurant is cute. Food came out quick and service was great. Prices were reasonable.

I tried the Russell's brunch on a whim and I'm not sure that I would go again or invite others to go. First, the spot is awesome, looks right over the lake and on a sunny day it was perfection to watch people out and about. However, I'm not quite sure they know what they want to be. The decor is confusing, the menu isn't cohesive, and the food is merely so-so. However, the staff was excellent running about the restaurant, keeping glasses full, and explaining the menu. On Sunday, there was a guitarist, which was a nice touch, but didn't really go with the vibe. Our food was fine - nothing exciting - and nothing that I would get again. The breakfast club was highly recommended and was what you expect, nothing more. The highlight was the hash browns, which were a sub from french fries. The burger was the same way, high on the server's recommendation list, but nothing special. I really was hoping to like the place and have a new spot for dinner, but I can't bring myself to go back with the food experience we had. read more

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We had a great first experience at Russell's. From the cocktails to the dessert, the entire meal was a delight. The best part was the view. The lake view was beautiful and offered for a romantic setting. We will definitely be back! read more

So I want to just say that the servers , bartenders and waitress were incredibly nice! I don't want this review to affect their attitude as again they were so spectacular in the positive manner they had. I also appreciated the live guitar player we had on Saturday morning for brunch . That was a great touch to the morning. To go along with the positives, I really liked the view from our table. I am not sure if they had outdoor seating but it would be nice to sit with the view when the weather gets nicer:) Now for the cons, I know restaurants everywhere are struggling with servers but my goodness the service was slow. Right when we got there about 1145 to join our two friends, we ordered champagne for bottomless mimosas and it just took around 10-15 min for us to get our drinks. The other good and drinks came slow but the initial drinks were the ones that took the longest. Our table ordered the charcuterie board which was less than appetizing. Something about the meat tasted off and we ended up telling her to throw it away. She was nice and took it off our bill. The breakfast I got was just okay, nothing super great about it but I wanted a classic breakfast so got Lakeside Breakfast. Overall, no I probably won't come back for brunch, but maybe would come back for dinner to try some of their menu items. Nothing really stuck out from me for breakfast. read more

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The dirty ceiling and moldy air vents make me nervous about cleanliness in places I can't see from my seat at the bar. Came in on a Sunday and the place was dead. It's bright inside. I thought they were closing when I walked up at 7pm. There was one bartender who seemed to be serving half the restaurant so it took a minute just to get drinks even though there were multiple servers and the manager standing around doing nothing. The food was fine. A little salty for my taste. read more

Great food and nice ambiance with a view overlooking a lake. If I were to be honest, the atmosphere could be enhanced with some ambient music and better lighting in the dining area. There's a mixture of lighting that doesn't flow well. The flow of the restaurant is not as appealing either. Also, you can see the highway as you look at the view of the lake from the dining area. Sunsets are nice but you see cars whizzing past too. The food is really very good, but does have room for improvement when it comes to the amount of salt and oil used for the octopus, and pork belly - too much. The beet salad was really good, but did have too much sauce. And the service, OMG, that's the one thing that REALLY needs to improve. We did not appreciate the wait time for the server to take our order or after we received our order. She did not ever come back to ask if we needed more drinks or even dessert afterwards. And then we had to walk up to the bar to get our check because we saw the bartender chatting it up with 2 of the servers for over 15mins without bothering to see if we needed anything. And we noticed other patrons at the restaurant having the same unpleasant experience. Other than this, may be worth it to get some other dishes that could be cooked right. Worth trying once at least. Who knows, you may get better service and food ‍ read more

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I have dined several times and arranged successful dinner parties at Russell's on Lake Ivanhoe. The menu and atmosphere are upscale. The food and service are extraordinary. Love this place! read more

I went as part of a large group of 20. The staff was very friendly and attentive. And the atmosphere was great. Unfortunately, that's where the enjoyment ended. Our meals took forever to come out. I ordered the beef short ribs and they were 90% fat. I have never had that happen before. I thought it was just me until I asked my friend what he thought of his, and he said his was also almost completely fat. When I told the Maitre D he said that he would pass along the info to the chef. And that was it. We were both still hungry! The meals were pretty expensive, and sides were extra, so I was very disappointed. Luckily, one of the other people in our party went and asked if we could order something else and they agreed. My others friend's shrimp over pasta looked very good, but he said there was almost no sauce on the pasta, so I did not order that. I finally settled on the chicken KIEV which was decent. I definitely would not go back. Everything LOOKS delicious, but it doesn't match the appearance. read more

The fish was cooked nicely. Service was attentive but a little slow in bringing out the food, which we didn't mind too much as we were enjoying each other's company. The zucchini fritters were very tasty, and the flower garnishes on fish were a nice touch for spring. The brussel sprouts were a bit too hard in the middle. read more

Russell's on Lake Ivanhoe - Zucchini fritters - American Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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To be honest I'd give them 3.5/5 but since Yelp doesn't do half points I'll state that here. I came here for brunch on a Sunday with my cousin and some of her friends. The restaurant wasn't too busy. I ordered a mimosa and the naked burger. The naked burger was good overall, but could have been better as the hash browns could use some improvement. The potato was shredded into long strands (like potato sticks chips in the can) then shaped into the hash brown and then broiled so it was like a baked crunchiness instead of a fried crunchiness that wasn't even with each bite, if they had deep fried it I would have enjoyed it more. Our server was very alert when someone's bottomless mimosa was low and made sure to keep the drinks coming. (I didn't participate in bottomless mimosas but thought it was worth giving her brownie points) I took photos of everyone's food because when I was trying to search the photos for reference of these dishes I couldn't find any so you are welcome to those who appreciate my efforts! read more

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Stopped in for happy hour and enjoyed wonderful hand crafted cocktails made by very hospitable bartenders. This place has an elegant yet casual Florida vibe with great views of Lake Ivanhoe. read more

Russell's on Lake Ivanhoe - Mai Tai & Old Fashioned - American Near Me - Orlando, Florida

You can't go wrong with a restaurant by the water! Views of the lake and sunset are always a nice experience. The service here is excellent- they check on you frequently and are very welcoming. I had the swordfish which was perfectly cooked. Tender and the butter sauce was like icing on a cake. Would definitely come again when in town. read more

Russell's on Lake Ivanhoe - Swordfish - American Near Me - Orlando, Florida

I don't even want to post this cuz then I wont be able to get a reservation at what I want to call MY new favorite spot! Anniversary dinner last Friday evening. We got dressed to kill and headed out with another couple. First the maitre d was very kind to help confirm that while they serve upscale cuisine, they are not stuffy, and except that Florida lifestyle. Sometimes demands more casual attire for dinner. Don't go looking like you're gonna play basketball, or fell off the back of a truck but casual clothes are accepted. Also, I was able to make the reservation online, which I love via the app. I'm pretty sure. I made it from Yelp via OpenTable, it is very easy to confirm and modify your reservation. The ambience is lovely. Don't worry about parking they have complimentary valet (this does not mean free it means tip those valet folks!). The wait staff were so accommodating to us as we were celebrating our anniversary and had a number of gifts for one another (more on this later). The dining room almost entirely overlooks Lake Ivanhoe. Our reservation was for 7 PM so the sun was going down and the view was very nice. After sunset you could see the lights on the surrounding city skyline sparkle in the distance. We sat at a four top and the dining room noise level was perfect for conversation. Now let's talk about the bar and food. We tried three mixed cocktail beverages and loved them all: the pineapple old-fashioned was strong with just the right amount of sweetness! The lavender lemonade was a slight modification to an existing drink on the menu and it was a hit as well. The final was the cucumber gimlet, a cucumber martini that sent me back about 15 years to my younger days of hanging in downtown Orlando and drinking cucumber martinis at ladies night happy hour on Orange Avenue at the vintage. Now for the food! For an appetizer, we tried the fresh warm bread and butter, which was to die for and zucchini fries with goat cheese dip. And zucchini fries were perfectly crunchy and not squishy in the middle and the goat cheese dip had the mild tanginess desired, but was smooth and creamy similar to a ranch dip. Four unique entrées were ordered: ribeye med well w their amazing take on mashed potatoes, duck con fit w spinach, chicken kiev with potatoes and a salmon w arugula and rice. All fourdishesweredeliciousbite after bite! No mods needed, the crowd went wild!!! We almost declined dessert for fear we drank our dessert in our refills of our beverages plus a couple Stella Artois thrown in for good fashion and we were plum full from our meals but we were persuaded easily into sharing a rasberry sorbet with two small macarons. The sorbet was so flavorful and felt less sinful since technically it converts to liquid and its fruit right?! . The macarons were much the same very light and just the right balance of sweetness but not lingering on your palate like a friend that has stayed too long. I have many reasons why this is my new fav place. for loving this place: 1. Food selection and quality is awesome and the plates I saw going past me made me want to try other dishes Id already scoped on the menu. 2. Prices are more than fair for what you get. My meal lasted as leftovers for a second pass and so did the others' meals as well except for the Salmon but he was hungry and shared it with us so not much was left....it was SO good. 2. Ambiance and Staff are A1. We left one gift bag by mistake and the staff found my reservation and called me offering for us to come get it even after hours while they were cleaning for the night or the next day at brunch. 3. Its a beautiful space and very clean, even restrooms sparkled. Very florida decor passes the vibe check! Im sorry I don't have photos of the food and drinks as I was completely immersed enjoying the experience and the celebration with my people. read more

Russell's on Lake Ivanhoe - View of Boat dock near parking lot from valet entrance. - American Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Russell's did you deliver the most amazing, mouth watering brunch I've been to so far?- yes. Our server I believe his name was Brandon was so nice. We also had a young Lady who was a bartender helping out as well. I told the server my food allergies; however both of the club sandwiches have bread it that has egg and dairy. So he actually recommended me the vegetarian cob but instead of tofu I did steak. This Hass to be one of the best brunch steaks I've ever had. It was pink but it wasn't bloody - it was very moist and absolutely yummy. The avocado in the salad it was not to avocado he and not overripe. The lettuce in the salad was crisp and refreshing and the quinoa was cooked perfectly. To drink I had the lavender lemonade. Which was Empress Jen, lemonade, fresh rosemary and lavender simple syrup. The drink was light and refreshing; and the perfect drinks to have on Mother's Day! The whole restaurant was trendy and coastal - and it had a really cool vibe. Parking is complementary for brunch; I'm not sure if it's complementary for dinner as well. I will definitely return here for brunch. I am giving this yelp review a 10 out of 10 the service was amazing and the food was extra spectacular. read more

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This was our first time here and it will it be our last! The food was delicious. We started with a charcuterie board, cocktails and then had seafood as our main dishes. We had salmon that was cooked perfection. Also, try the bread pudding The service was very professional and effective. We had a table by the lake. We felt relaxed and unhurried. We are very happy with our visit!! read more

My husband and I dined here for our anniversary and really enjoyed it. We made an early reservation on Friday evening to have dinner before our show at Dr. Phillip's PAC at 8pm. There is a parking lot, but it seemed valet was the only option. It was free, but tips are expected. I was a bit worried when we walked in as there was quite a line up at the hostess stand and it took almost 10 minutes for us to be recognized behind a large party and a couple with no reservations, however, things soon perked up. Our server was outstanding and very attentive. I ordered a lavender cocktail, but unfortunately they were out of lavender so I chose a glass of wine instead. I found the wine list to be limited, but I did enjoy the glass I chose. My husband had the sidecar and said it was good, but not outstanding. For our appetizer we had the Caesar salad for 2 which is made table side. It was a very nice presentation and a good Caesar, but I was hoping/expecting it to taste fresher since it was made right there. For my entrée I had the pepper crusted filet. I love a good pepper crust, but I expected more flavor to come from that crust than it did. Without the bearnaise it would have been very boring. It was a relatively large steak for the price, but I sent it back because it was way under cooked. I ordered it medium and I told our server that medium for me was very pink, but not red. She agreed that their standard for medium was the same, but it came out very red. She and my husband agreed it was medium rare. She returned a few minutes later and it was better, but I still gave a slice in the middle to my husband as it was still a bit rare for me. The aligote potatoes were a great side and pairing. My husband had the swordfish and he said it was outstanding. He loves swordfish, but is always a bit nervous about ordering it after going to another restaurant that just overcooked it so badly, but he said this one was superb. For dessert, we had the bread pudding and honestly it was a highlight. I like bread pudding, but this one was really great and a nice way to finish off the meal. Overall, I like the vibe of the place. I like the tables by the water, even if you are looking at I-4 as well. Our server was wonderful. Our food was overall good and I would come back and try something else or try brunch. read more

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I think I died and went to heaven with this dinner menu!! The seafood options here are a 9/10 easily! I've been here one other time for their brunch, and I really enjoyed my time! The service was great and the food was delicious. This second time around having dinner was PHENOMENAL. We got here a little after opening so it was nice and quiet :) To drink we ordered the pineapple old fashioned & pineapple mai tai. Both were excellent beverages but I definitely favored the mai tai! For our entree's we had the Grilled Marinated Mahi Mahi and the Blackened Wild Salmon. Both were absolutely out of this world, melt in your mouth goodness! For the salmon they recommend medium but I would say do what we did and ask for it medium rare. You'll thank me for that one! This restaurant is another treasure of the Ivanhoe area and I definitely see myself coming back here on a monthly if not weekly. Keep up the amazing work to the entire team here read more

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Came here for a quick dinner before a concert. This place is definitely upscale and looks very clean on the inside. Our waitress although she lost her voice was great and came by our table a perfect amount of times. I had the pepper crusted beef tenderloin which was delicious with the gravy that came with and potatoes. I would definitely come back here. I would say the prices while not too high were slightly on the high side. I also tried the crème brûlée and it was amazing, better than most crème brûlées I've had. read more

Russell's on Lake Ivanhoe - Pepper Crusted Beef Tenderloin - American Near Me - Orlando, Florida

I took my mom and sister here for brunch while they were in town for a visit. I had never been before, but always wanted to try this place. The staff were very personable and attentive; and the space was bright, clean and open, and the lake view was nice. I have to admit, I was very underwhelmed by the menu choices for the brunch. Honestly, nothing really appealed to me, and I understand that is a personal preference and not on the restaurant, but it made choosing a meal more challenging. There were no simple breakfast options. Everything seemed a little "extra". I finally settled on the Cinnamon Roll Waffle for $14 with homemade sausage, berries, cinnamon sugar glaze and cream cheese glaze. I also ordered a side of hashbrowns for $5. I'm not sure why it's called a waffle, it was just two small cinnamon rolls, and the 1 small sausage patty I personally didn't care for. My mother tried it and didn't care for it either. The hashbrowns were two small, scoop size portions of hashbrowns. After I added some salt to add flavor, they were ok. My mom & sister ordered the Crab & Avocado Toast with a small side salad for $26. This was a single slice of toasted brioche topped with egg salad, avocado and lump crab meat. They enjoy the breakfast but agreed that it definitely wasn't worth $26. I'm not sure if I want to go back to try them for dinner. I definitely won't return for brunch again. The atmosphere and experience don't make up for the price of the food compared to the portion size. read more

Great drinks, beautiful waterside view, and delicious food. I'd recommend their mimosa and subs.

just had a wonderful Valentines dinner. This place is so beautiful and the staff is amazing. Thanks for making our night so special. Vivian Wood read more

If I could give this place a 3.5 I would. A friend brought me here for my bday dinner because it was supposed to be an upscale restaurant. I definitely felt overdressed because there were people in shorts and a T-shirt... I'll give you the pros and cons...service was great, drinks were good and the view on the lake is pretty. Cons...the food was bland and I felt they could have better menu options. I probably would not return, there's just way too many other great restaurant options in the area. read more

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Another great experience at this restaurant. Service was spot on. My wife had the salmon with the whipped potatoes. I had the double pork chop, which was extra savory also along with the potatoes. An A+ plus experience and such a great setting. Esteban was wonderful, informative, friendly, and professional. Kudos to him!! read more

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Slow service in an empty restaurant. Out of multiple items on a small menu.. that leads me to pricing, it's ridiculously overpriced for the quality of food. I have been told the chef was changed a year ago and it's been going down hill ever since. read more

Took my wife for her birthday brunch to Russell's. This was our first experience and definitely not our last. The atmosphere is very relaxed and all the staff, including the owner were all very welcoming and friendly. The restaurant is setup with ample space which was very comfortable with my large wheelchair. We started with a shrimp cocktail which has very large shrimp, were very fresh (no hint of frozen), and some very good cocktail sauce that was delicious and home made. We then shared a Cesar salad that was described as having a home made dressing dating back to 1924. This was absolutely the most delicious salad and I am now definitely ruined on all other dressing, so definitely a must try. My wife had the club and I had the bun-less burger. Both were very good but honestly not as impressive as the appetizers. The dinner dishes look amazing so we are looking forward to upgrading our review once we return and try the main dishes. We highly recommend Russell's, and we will be returning soon. read more

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I chose Russell's for a small celebration dinner with my family after a courthouse wedding. Zoe was so accommodating and easy to plan with even over distance. Once we actually got there, the food was amazing, the service was great and the ambiance was exactly what we needed for an intimate family gathering. They were incredibly understanding of our party's allergies and restrictions and I cannot recommend them enough :) read more

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