Total hidden gem in Chicago. I was dying to have a tea time but it has gotten so expensive at the hotels in the area so I stumbled across Russian Tea time. This place has every luxurious thing on the menu such as caviar service and extravagant meals. I had the tea service which came with a selection of baked goods and sandwiches that were all excellent. The staff was great and took our coats and hung them up the moment we got there. This place has a luxurious but cozy feel. Much of the food and environment seems to be authentic and not overly American. read more

Russian Tea Time - Regular Afternoon Tea Service goodies! - Russian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Wow. Delicious! We went for dinner before a concert. We highly recommend the vegetarian platter and the zrazy. The tea we picked was good as well. read more

We discovered Russian Tea Time by chance, walking past on our way to the art museum. We were lucky enough to get a table without a reservation towards the end of the lunch rush on a Sunday. The ambiance/decor is great, I felt underdressed in running shorts having not planned on this as it is a fancier ambience, but everyone was kind and welcoming just the same. We went for lunch, not tea. The traditional Russian food was delicious, we thoroughly enjoyed our soup, appetizer and entrees. The service was wonderful and I look forward to dining here again next time I am in Chicago. read more

It's strange, but certain foods go out of fashion, and I have no idea why. Two dishes come to mind: beef Wellington and beef stroganoff To my happiness, I found the latter on the menu at Russian Tea Time! Their version adds some grain to the beef and noodles, but it is an excellent combination. There are many other Eastern European comfort foos here too, such as cabbage rolls and Hungarian goulash. Those are OK, but it's the stroganoff that brings me back. I love the ambience. Perhaps because it's right around the corner from the symphony, the background music is classical. You can actually have a conversation without shouting. Years ago I spent time in Prague, and there is something about Russian Tea Time that reminds me of restaurants there 60 years ago. read more

Great spot for hangout with friends and grabbing tea and pastries. We got the white strawberry tea which has a nice fragrance. The pastry tower consist of scones on the top layer that comes with cream and jam, middle layer of savory food like sandwich bites and cabbage crepe roll, and bottom layer of various sweets. The scone with cream and jam is quite delicious, dry enough to go with the tea while maintaining some level of moisture; definitely one of my favorite thing in the tower. The sweets were just okay though, some were too sweet or just tasted like regular cake/cupcakes. read more

Russian Tea Time - Classic Afternoon Tea ServiceAfternoon - Russian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'm glad Russian Tea Time was the first restaurant I tried in Chicago. Everything about it was impeccable: The food, ambiance, and service. The Yelp description of Russian Tea Time says the owners are from Uzbekistan, so a good chunk of their menu are dishes are from Russia and other Eastern European countries. The host greeted us then asked if we had a reservation. It would seem that making a reservation beforehand is expected. Thankfully we did, and we came during the traditional lunchtime. The waiter handled everything like a pro: He seated parties, waited tables, picked up the restaurant's phone, and cleaned the tables. I couldn't imagine someone being as good as at multitasking like him. We didn't get the High Tea since it was expensive for what it included since we saw people about us getting it. I ordered from their Grand Prix menu, which was released to celebrate their re-opening. I got a combination platter of their potato dumplings plus beef dumplings that were called vareniki. My main course was the chicken kebabs, which were more reminiscent of central Asian cuisine. I actually liked the vareniki more because it reminded of the kind of dumplings I'd eat at a Chinese restaurant. The only difference is that the dumplings had beef and potatoes, instead of pork. The chicken kebabs were drier than I would've liked. The ambiance is nice. Dimmed lights and comfortable looking tables meant to seat parties. There are Russian dolls scattered throughout the restaurant. Along with them were Mongolian-looking dolls based on the clothing the dolls were in. They have a large selection of teas ranging from origins in Japan and China. Respectively like Sencha and Dragonwell. They also have a house tea with no particular name. The house tea is super dark, and tastes a bit like licorice and fruit. Definitely an acquired taste compared to their safe choices like Dragonwell. read more

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Lovely restaurant just across Michigan and down the block from the Art Institute. A bit pricey, but an excellent choice for post museum rest and refreshment. Elegant decor with an Eastern European flair. Immaculately clean! Full bar, prompt, attentive, and efficient service. We tried a vegetarian sampler platter, which featured a cold plate first course, and a warm second course. Most notable for me were the beet caviar, carrot slaw, and chickpea paste (a tasty hummus-like treat). Latkes, piroshki, potatoes, cabbage roll, and kasha were well prepared and quite satisfying (translation: I was full when I walked out of there.)! Meal was capped off with honey cake, a lovely torte; and a most delicious pot of Czar's Samovar tea. I highly recommend Russian Tea Time, especially that aromatic and flavorful tea; and I hope to return! read more

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I had an appointment at the Philippine Consulate and noticed that this was around the corner. I decided to stop in for a late lunch after my appointment. It was around 2 pm so it wasn't busy. I was concerned at first that they might only have tea service like little bites and sandwiches but was pleased to find out that they had a whole dinner menu. The prix fixe menu looked intriguing but my friends really recommended I try the borscht and the beef stroganoff on my first visit. The borscht was delightful especially since I don't usually enjoy beets. The sour cream added the extra oomph and just completed the dish. The stroganoff was a very generous amount and it was delicious. Everything I had was comforting and just hit the spot. I had my brother finish the rest of my stroganoff so that I had enough room for dessert and even then I was only able to eat a couple bites of the Napoleon cake before asking for a box to bring it home. It was so good and I was happy that I was able to enjoy the rest of it at home. This was such a fun experience and I'm looking forward to bringing my sisters here with me! read more

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The cake is a must order - one of the most delicious cakes I've ever had. The tea service was great. The borscht was a little too sweet for me compared to others I've had, but still pretty good on a cold winter day. Pelmenis and piroshkis were delicious, as well. Service was perfect - they even changed our table mid-service because we had an additional person join us at the last minute. read more

Very delicious place! The food was great, the tea was flavorful and the service was spot on. We came here after we searched on Yelp for a Russian restaurant. It did not disappoint. read more

Russian Tea Time - 2 Pcs Wild Quail - Russian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great Beef Stroganoff and tea ! Service was super with knowledgeable staff who were friendly.

One of the must go to places in #Chicago for #tea in my personal opinion . #Russian Tea Time is nestled right in the #Loop right off of famed Michigan Avenue, you can come here for tea service with sweet and savory appetizers or larger entrees. The prefix menu gets you appetizers like piroshkies and many different entrees options like stuffed eggplant. Many different teas to try, but I personally love their standard tea! It is a great option to get right after work or before shows! If you are hungrier would recommend the prefix menu. Despite the Loop location, this place is not too busy and has an ambiance that is cozy and not rushed and service is phenomenal. read more

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This place is a real treat. The ambiance is truly old world opulent. The service is exceptional and actually professional in an era where servers are now mostly doing the minimum. As to the food, pierogis and the borscht were both truly exceptional. And the samovar tea was equally tasty. It's not cheap but unlike many other places the cost is justified in the is case. Go treat yourselves for a brunch You won't be disappointed. read more

Every dish was with good presentation and delicious, environment is quiet and classy. Desserts are exceptional as well, highly recommended! read more

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Usually we could have the standard afternoon tea with scones and tea sandwiches, but we opted to try out the Russian sampler plates (Russian Tea Time for Two), so many savory items that were new to us. We very impressed with the vegetarian items and had a lot of food leftover (could have fed four people). The hot czar tea was delightful and the service was perfectly timed. read more

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We had a great experience at Russian Tea Time. From the time we walked in to the last bite of the layered honey cake everything was fantastic. The place is immaculately clean and polished. The ambiance resembles a classic trans Siberian train restaurant with rich colors and comfortable classic furniture. Glasses and silverware were spotless. Most of the staff are young Russian speaking people who are well trained, very polite and professional. Our server was very prompt and courteous. We shared beet herring salad, crepes with cavear, and potato varenniki with the carrot salad. Everything was delicious and very true to Russian home cooking. The only thing I was slightly disappointed with was that crepes came out cold and could be a little thinner for my taste, otherwise the dish was very well presented with extra lox, Russian sour cream, capers and red onions. For the main course we shared lamb shank which tasted absolutely delicious accompanied with the side of buckwheat kasha perfectly crumbly and very flavourful. I could tell that all the ingredients were native and the cake tasted just right! I would definitely return to try other dishes here. Highly recommend this place. read more

For my first foray into Russian food, I have to say, I was quite impressed when I initially walked in. Although the aroma wasn't very strong, nonetheless it smelled amazing. My server was Mark. He was very informative of all the items on the menu. He explained in great detail about what I was planning to order from the Pre-Fixe menu, in which I highly appreciate the concept and convenience of such a fixture. For the first course, I had the Ukrainian Borscht. I've been wanting to check this soup out for a long time, especially since I've never had it. This has to be one of the tastiest and heartiest soups I've ever had in a long time. Very rich and savory, it contained big chunks of tomato. The sour cream mixed in made it even better! My main course of choice consisted of Golubtsi (stuffed cabbage), along with buckwheat kasha and carrot salad. The buckwheat kasha was warm and fresh and the carrot salad was chilled. It was very easy to cut into the stuffed cabbage; the filling inside was very well cooked. Although it wasn't as stellar as the borscht was, I thought it was still very good. In addition, Mark also talked me into getting dessert but I passed for the time being mainly because I was just about full as well as on a budget. Next time!! Overall, a very great experience. The only minor problem I had was that it seemed the waiters were taking a long time to get to me despite there being only a handful of ppl in the establishment. But, being the patient person I am, I didn't make a big deal out of it. This was literally, "From Russia with love!". 9/10 read more

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Once again a very enjoyable meal. Excellent service, chicken Kiev, mushroom salad and vodka flight. Pickles but no bread with the vodka flight anymore I guess? read more

I had the queen's tea service with three friends. It includes bottomless tea with a tower of sweets and savories for $69. We also had the beef stew, chicken Kiev and lentil soup. Each dish was so well made-fresh and flavorful. The house tea was velvety smooth. The staff is on top of it but leave you alone to chat and enjoy. The red couches are a regal touch though I wish the back part of the restaurant featured them as well. This is a lovely experience and I can't recommend it enough. read more

Excellent food! We came for early afternoon tea time on a Saturday; had reservations and were promptly seated in their back room, which is decorated with old time advertisements and propaganda posters that was interesting to see amongst the colors, lighting, and general decor to see a bit of history and culture. The menu was a bit confusing, since we were looking for afternoon tea, which was on one menu (and didn't turn out to be the sweet/savory items and more of a lunch platter, and the baked and sandwich items on an electronic menu we didn't see. Bummer, but we should have asked to have been sure. In any case, the food that we did get, which was a collection of pierogies, beet and carrot salad, tabouli, and potato salads, for the first dish, then stuffed bell pepper, and stroganoff, were delicious. I think we enjoyed the first dish more since there was a lot of variety and contrast in flavor in texture, but the second course was amazing as well, especially the savory flavor of the stroganoff. We would certainly come back and try the actual tea time, next time :) read more

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Really classy and unique place for high tea in the Loop area! Located right across from the Art Institute, Russian Tea Time is a great place if you are from Chicago or if you are just visiting. My friend and I got the Queens Tea Service which I would definitely recommend, as you get a full selection of their offerings. The top tier had scones, crepes, fresh cream, jam, and fish eggs. The next tier are the savory items and the last tier are the sweets I thought all their food items were great, with the herring on toasted bread and the tiramisu to be standouts. Its a great place to spend some time with friends and family. We were seated straight away and the food and tea came out quickly. The service can be a little cold, but I think that's just a cultural thing. Definitely check this place out for a nice dining experience! read more

Russian Tea Time - Queen Afternoon Tea Service - Russian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I'm a big fan of snacky-type meals and pretty little sandwiches and pastries, but afternoon tea is usually pretty pricey. This spot in Chicago is relatively affordable at $35.95 per person, which covers a pot of tea, mini sandwiches, and sweet pastries. If you go with a group of people, each of you can choose a different type of tea and all share. I've been here twice and would definitely go back again to enjoy the afternoon tea service. I don't think all the pastries are necessarily show-stopping, but the variety of bite-size treats is really fun to enjoy. I did really like the flavors of the teas though - we especially liked the house tea (darjeeling and black currant) and the apricot green tea. Definitely recommend if you want to try out afternoon tea service! read more

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I love getting afternoon tea from this place and it's convenient to the Art Institute and Millenium Park. They give you SO much food and the teas are great. I liked the fruit teas, they were pink and purple. They change them around a bit, so I'm always excited to try new teas. They give you sugar cubes for the tea too. read more

Russian Tea Time - Russian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We went to Russian Tea Time, not for tea but for an early dinner. Others were having tea--some on their own while reading or studying--and it seemed to be a popular place for that. We had been at Russian Tea Time thirty years ago and wanted to revisit this favorite Chicago restaurant. Considering the current tragedies in the Ukraine, we decided to look into the restaurant's background. The owner was born and raised in Ukraine and also lived in Uzbekistan. The owners enjoy offering dishes and beverages from several of the the former SSRs. I have been reading a trilogy based on medieval Russian folklore and the restaurant and its furnishings reminded of the story. We had a kind and patient server who translated things for us, i.e. the label on our Ukrainian beer bottle. We first met a friend for drinks and then proceeded to order dinner after our friend had moved on--no problem! Our server did not rush us. We started with Ukrainian lager (me) and horseradish vodka shots (my husband and friend) and also ordered pumpernickel and a selection of vegetarian appetizers: eggplant, beet caviar, carrot salad, a salad with vinaigrette, cabbage apple appetizer, tabbouleh, and chickpea spread. It was $20 and plenty for three people. I was a little disappointed that there was not a vegetarian borscht but not for long because there were so many other choices. I would love to return for the vegetable soup (vegetarian) and the Olivye Salad with potatoes, carrots, pickles, eggs, peas, and mayonnaise. I am pescatarian and had the grilled salmon with spinach and potato sides--excellent! My husband enjoyed the lamb shank. There are several vegetarian options as well, or a vegetarian could build a wonderful meal with appetizers and sides. Symbols indicate vegetarian and gluten. My husband had a second vodka (also horseradish) and a Lithuanian beer that was a bit metallic and quite different from the Ukrainian beer, which we preferred. We were glad that we returned for this meal, which was at the same time nostalgic, updated with vegetarian and gluten free dishes, and memorable read more

Russian Tea Time - Ukrainian beer. Oops--didn't photograph it before I drank most of it! - Russian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food is good, the vodka is good, and the service is amazing. Gluten free menu items are available.

I came here with a group of friends to celebrate an engagement. The place was elegantly decorated, and the bold colors made you feel like you were in a royal palace. We were seated as soon as we walked in, and they waited for everyone to arrive before taking orders. It was many of our first times at a high tea place, so we were brand new to the concept. The menu was a little confusing, and we definitely needed to ask for clarification. I wish someone took the time to explain it more. Also, we were informed they ran out of scones after we ordered. They also didn't check in on us/ask if we needed anything after serving. Despite the initial confusion, we were amazed at the selection! I personally got the regular tea service. I chose decaf raspberry tea, and it came out piping hot. The flavor was naturally sweet so I didn't add any sugar. Then came the sweets and savories. They added two orders per tower to avoid crowding the table. You get one of each item for the most part. Not sure how often the selection changes. My top tier had honey cake with fresh cream and jam--so yummy, fresh, and creamy! The middle tier had savory crostini/open faced sandwiches, definitely unique since I was expecting cucumber finger sandwiches! I was happy at the surprise. My savories consisted of a mini latke, honey mustard chicken, smoked salmon (my personal favorite), a veggie, a sauerkraut roll, and a tomato based toast. The mini sweets on the final tier were memorable. I especially enjoyed the tiramisu and lemon bar. There was also a chocolate cake, Swiss roll, strawberry, and coconut! Be sure to inform your server of any dietary restrictions. They accommodate vegetarian folks very well. My vegetarian friends had just as much variety on their tiers. They had beets, hummus, tabouleh--tons of options available. Prices are also reasonable. Regular tea service is about $40 a person and comes with plenty of choices. Lastly, I wanted to thank them for surprising my newly engaged friend with a beautiful Napoleon cake! What a great experience! read more

Russian Tea Time - Regular Afternoon Tea Service - Russian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My friends and I really enjoyed our afternoon at Russian Tea Time. The tea service here is amazing! The decor and ambience is lovely and the service was wonderful. We had the Queen Tea Service and informed our server of our dietary restrictions (no ham or chicken), which they wonderfully accommodated by providing tasteful substitutions. I went with the Earl Grey Bergamot tea, a classic, and also tried my friend's Lychee Rose Green, which was subtle but delicious. My favorite savory was definitely the smoked salmon/dill combination and my favorite sweet was the raisin scone with the sweet cream. We had an abundance of food, it's definitely more than two people can comfortably eat! I would love to come back here again! read more

Russian Tea Time - Queen Afternoon Tea Service - Russian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We ordered the queen afternoon tea. It includes quite a lot of savories and sweets as you can see from the picture. In general, the savories taste better than the sweets. The salmon sandwiches and beef ( I think? ) sandwiches are pretty good. The sweets are very basic cakes with cream, not those delicate fancy desserts. I will give the food 3 stars. For tea, I personally like the lychee rose green tea. Not a fan of the house tea. I give one extra star to the relatively reasonable price. Compared to some afternoon tea in other hotels, the queen tea is 59 dollars, which is much more affordable. The restaurant gives an old classic vibe. We were sitting in the inner area and it was quiet on Sunday afternoon. It is a good place to hang out with friends and have some nice conversations. read more

Russian Tea Time - Queen Afternoon Tea Service - Russian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Exceptional service and the food was some of the best I had ever had! Ambiance was super charming and the food was fresh and high quality. read more

Russian Tea Time - Beet Crepe with Gourmet Mushrooms - Russian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I really enjoyed our experience at this restaurant. The food was very nice and staff did an amazing job. I can see how it can be confusing for people who did not grow up with understanding what dish is supposed to look like and for my American companions it was challenging to get a grip of things. (If there would be someone interested in feedback: maybe it would be a bit more helpful to add pictures of your most popular dishes to the menu?). "Russian potato" -- apparently is just a fried potato (for example), even I needed clarification. Olivie left me a tad dissatisfied. The pieces were to large to have this "magical" experience to have every ingredient in one bite. It also did not have any protein (either ham or chicken) nor it had pickles. I was looking forward to that dish to tell my aunt that it was not just a potato salad. That is why I took a star away. In this case it was just a potato salad. Overall very good! read more

Russian Tea Time - Dining area - Russian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My friends and I had a 7:30pm dinner reservation and we arrived on time. Upon sitting down, we were told that the kitchen closed at 8 (!!) and we'd have to order immediately. We were surprised; what restaurant in downtown Chicago has a kitchen that closes at 8pm on a Friday night? Everything came out of the kitchen almost at once. We had to stop eating our appetizers so we could turn our attention to our entrees so they wouldn't get cold. Food was fine, but nothing exceptional. The Chicken Kiev was overcooked and dry. My question is, why would the restaurant accept a reservation 7:30pm if the kitchen closes at 8? They shouldn't make their diners feel so rushed. The waitress was very friendly, so that was good, and we enjoyed the smoked salmon crepes. But overall, between the food and the kitchen bizarrely closing at 8, maybe the joke was on us and this really isn't a dinner spot, but a tea place. read more

Everything tasted great! Borscht is so yummy! And I loved pelmeni! I love the menu! Great food. read more

Russian Tea Time - Cup Ukrainian Borscht - Russian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I love the decor here, very nice atmosphere. Service is friendly. While I liked the beef pelmeni, the potato dumplings and stroganoff were rather bland. The meat was also very tough in the stroganoff. Adding salt and pepper helped a bit. The pear tea was good. I got honey cake to go and I did like that. I am disappointed they no longer have the dessert menu they used to have, just a few things from the tea menu. The food needs some work but I would stop in again for tea. read more

Russian Tea Time - Russian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great Food windy! Borscht and beet crepes. I love the tea and bought some to take home! read more

What a wonderful experience on a cold winter day. We felt so welcome and warm. Service was impeccable - we were greeted with joy and enthusiasm, served with grace and ease. The tea was delicious as were the three tiers of cakes, canapes and caviar. It was such a wonderful experience which we plan to repeat. read more

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We only stopped by for tea, but not only was the tea amazing, my husband kept commenting on the flavor, but we also loved the atmosphere. We only had about 20 minutes to sit and have tea, but my husband was really wanting to try some of the food. Our Russian accented waiter was very friendly, and we were hoping to have time during our five days in Chicago to return, but did not. Next time we're in Chicago he definitely wants to try a meal there. read more

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We came to this beautiful restaurant on a cold Friday afternoon. It wasn't busy. We were greeted by a very nice girl who checked out vaccine cards and then took us to our table. The entire place is spotlessly clean and very aesthetic. Even the bathrooms. We ordered the following: Chicken Kebab Shashlik ($22 as of Jan 2022). It was very delicious. Grilled Chick Breast Florentine ($24). Very tasty, especially the mushroom sauce. read more

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My wife and I dined here. We landed here, marching through snow, after rejecting 2 other restaurants we had made reservations for due to their poor ambiance and noise levels. This should've been our first pick. Service and food was excellent; servers knew the menu, and our server was courteous to let us use a plug behind the bar to charge our phone. Wine list was succinct but well-varied, and the Georgian Tetra was a nice departure from a Riesling. Booths were comfortable, and acoustics made for a pleasant talking environment. If we had needed to leave quickly, we could've been seated, got appetizers and wine, ordered entrees, been served, ate, and left all within an hour -- which is making great time for great dining on a Saturday evening, in any city in America. read more

Cream soup (Mushroom soup): really good definitely recommend Tabouleh: as a Arab, my standard is high. It was pretty good but the bulgar was a bit harder Combination Dumplings: 8/10. Pretty good, especially the pickled carrots in the middle (I'm a sucker for good veggies!) Chicken dishes: some chicken was rubbery. Lamb shank: 8/10. Pretty good! Russian tea & desserts: 9/10, really good. My favorite was the strawberry tart! Bathrooms: 9/10 clean. Overall experience: 9/10 would do it again! read more

Russian Tea Time - Tea & desserts - Russian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Good tea, very slow/absent service, SO hot inside. The good: the tea tasted good, the food (as part of regular tea service) was good, and the decor/ambiance inside was nice. The house tea is very tasty and so is the apricot green. The bad: our waiter never came back so we didn't order as much as we could have. We probably would have ordered another tower but after he took our order the first time, he never came back. We ended up just hanging out for an hour and a half and got too sweaty and decided to leave. The inside was so hot. There was no AC and it was humid inside so we ended up drenched in sweat. It was literally nicer outside because the temperature was slightly cooler and there was also some wind. Overall, it wasn't an awful experience but it definitely was not as fun as we expected it to be because of the slow service and heat inside. If the AC had been on and our waiter had come back, we would have had so much fun and ordered much more. I think the bad just slightly outweighed the good. read more

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