This is a stunning upscale restaurant located inside the Atheneum Hotel. The interior is gorgeously decorated. The lighting and overall ambience is perfect for date nights and anniversaries. They do offer bread service. I went with a few friends and we ordered the lobster bucatini, branzino, and petite filet. For sides we ordered bruseel sprouts, roasted carrots, and garlic mashed potatoes. The branzino and lobster bucatini that my friends ordered were good. I especially liked the salsa verde they served with the branzino, it was a perfect balance for the light fish. I ordered my steak medium, but unfortunately it arrived overcooked. They said they cooked it for me medium-rare the second time around, but sadly it was the same case. The meat was very chewy and underwhelming. I do want to point out that staff (I think it might have actually been the owner of the restaurant) went above and beyond to make sure we had a great experience and even offered me something else off the menu, complimentary. They're definitely committed to providing exceptional customer service. We were short on time, and the steak did take quite a bit of time to make so I passed and skipped over to dessert. We tried three different desserts, a Gelato, almond cake, and chocolate temptation (chocolate mousse cake). The temptation was my favorite item of the night and I would definitely return for that alone! Overall, had an amazing experience and would absolutely return. read more

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An amazing place to eat in the Atheneum Hotel in Greektown! Came by last minute with a party of six on a Friday night expecting to get hit with a crazy long wait, but surprisingly, they immediately sat us down! Menu is sort Mediterranean meets high-end Steakhouse dinner restaurant. Appetizers: Grilled octopus appetizer is so good! Not rubbery at all and cooked perfectly tender. Also went with calamari that's got the mama's lil peppers from some spicy zing. Mains: Mediterranean grilled branzino was amazing. Somehow, they removed the bones and reassembled the grilled skin on portions so it looked like a whole fish. Nice charred grill taste and really nice flaky meat. Braised short rib: very tender and meaty portions of this. I am glad my friend got this so I could try The best of the sides was the creamed spinach, which sounds pretty standard, but trust me, this was one of the best versions of creamed spinach I have ever tried! They used fresh spinach leaves to make and quite cheesy and creamy! Service here was incredible and very welcoming. Maybe it was an off night, or the locals are totally sleeping on this place. I would definitely try this place if you are looking for some good eats in Greektown! read more

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Came here today to check it out, I missed the Yelpies event last month and needed to pick up the award I won, plus it came with a free appetizer coupon for Symposia. In addition, I had won $100 gift card from the hotel's Instagram page back in May, and figured this would be a good time to use it. We ordered the mushroom and steak appetizer, it was tasty but I was expecting more mushrooms versus steak pieces. I had the filet, medium rare, for my entree, and it was good but I did think it was a little charred-tasting. It came with some sort of Worcestershire dipping sauce I believe, and that was also good, as well as asparagus and a few small potatoes. My fiance got the lobster pasta and also enjoyed it. I also got one of the holiday drinks, which had vodka, lemonade, and strawberry puree in it, and it was very good. My fiance got two of the drinks on the non-holiday menu and enjoyed both. The star of the show here for me was definitely the dessert - we ordered the chocolate hazelnut cake and both the plating/presentation and the taste were excellent. Our waiter was very good as well, and they are quick with the water refills here. We had a bit of the a snafu at the end - apparently the hotel had not loaded any money onto the gift card, but the (manager?) honored the $100, once I told him the amount on the gift card, so I felt like they dealt with that very well. The restaurant will validate parking so it is free to valet at the hotel - there is a very small little parking circle that you pull up to, in front of the hotel, and then make sure to get your parking validated. We showed up around 6:10 p.m. for a 6:30 reservation, since we were coming from a show at LCA across town, and they told us to check back at 6:35 p.m. for our table, but at 6:30 p.m. sharp the manager came to the lobby and said our table was ready, which was fine. I would come back here but probably only when I'm in the area. I thought all the food was very good but it was a bit pricey, most entrees were $35 and up and drinks were about $17+, with desserts being $13 each; my steak (8-oz. filet) was $42 and was the least expensive of the steak choices. Another thing is that my chair was very small - I'm larger, but it was rather uncomfortable, although I adjusted to it over time. read more

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This place's ambience is top tier and the appetizers were definitely great. We went for a yelp event so i definitely plan on going back for dinner and drinks. The pictures speak a billion words and I hope you all get an opportunity to check this place out. Detroit really has some Beautiful Gems. read more

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Symposia is a great place to have dinner and cocktails downtown - you can't beat complimentary valet, especially in the Winter, and the customer service is really top-notch. Management is absolutely wonderful, and they have coat check. The food is delicious and I love what they have to offer on their menu - upscale Greek favorites with a modern twist. Standouts were the lamb chops, the salmon, and the beet salad is absolutely to die for. It is a wonderful and unique salad - I'd return just for that! Cocktails are balanced and delicious and the ambiance is really beautiful - fairly quiet with a good vibe; velvety with warm lighting and a posh feel. A great place for cocktail dresses and heels. The first time we went, it was shortly after they opened, and service had a few kinks. However, when I spoke to management the next day, they were so accommodating and friendly and they gave us a very generous gift card so that we could return and enjoy dinner. I wasn't expecting such graciousness, and I'm so glad we were able to return at a later date and have such a pleasant experience. It just goes to show that a little friendly, direct, constructive criticism goes a long way, and they really went the extra mile to ensure we'd return. We definitely will, and I highly recommend this beautiful restaurant. read more

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This restaurant is located within the Atheneum Hotel. It is very nice and small. The staff were very nice and welcoming. Super helpful with recommendations. We shared everything, we had the beet appetizer, the Greek salad and the spinach hazelnut salad. The beet salad was good they could have added more seasonings. The Greek salad was very good the creamy Greek dressing was really, really good. I loved the champagne vinaigrette on the spinach hazelnut salad. We had the Bronzino it was melt in the mouth good. The dressing was so good I put some on the roasted potatoes since they were lacking flavor. The mashed potato was creamy, gooey and flavorful. The lobster Mac n cheese was ok. The cheese was not gooey and it the bread crumbs were a bit gritty. We had the crème Brûlée and the chocolate treasure. The chocolate was creamy but a little bitter, the crème brûlée was good a bit softer than it should be. The blueberry rosemary compote was tasty with the crème brûlée. Our server Will was amazing very friendly and had great recommendations. Even for afterwards for places to go. read more

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The ambience was great, the music was good. The manager was nice and accommodating. The wait staff was the best I've encountered in Detroit, very knowledgeable about the wine and the menu. Their cocktail with espresso and tequila was most excellent. The food was amazing. The appetizer was like a deconstructed beef Wellington and was excellent. The Greek salad was fresh with an awesome dressing. The lamb chops were definitely the best I ever had as the waiter described them. The branzino was to die for. Will definitely be back for other special occasions. read more

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This restaurant had such a beautiful Ambience, their waitstaff's service outstanding and the appetizers were very tasty you should definitely check this restaurant out. read more

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Absolutely stunning restaurant inside of the Atheneum hotel. Great spot to check out if you're in Greektown. Well, I didn't get an entrée. I did only get a few appetizers and they were really yummy. The service is so quick and management is top-tier. read more

Symposia Detroit - Desserts Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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It's nice for a date night. I would like to visit symposia again and have full access to the menu but I enjoyed Yelp event, appetizers, and speciality cocktail. The seating arrangements are a little awkward for a party of one but with a group this is cute and quaint. read more

Symposia Detroit - Desserts Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Great experience from the greeting to the end of the meal. Friendly, knowledgeable staff, our server was Michael who was fantastic and made great recommendations. Ambiance was upscale and romantic making it a great place for a date night. Food was great, cooked perfectly and the octopus appetizer was the best I've had. Plus - they offer valet at the hotel it's located inside of and the restaurant validates. read more

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Symposia was such a delightful treat! First of all the service was impeccable from the moment we walked in the door. We enjoyed the calamari, a Greek salad, and our main course which consisted of a lobster pasta and fillet and lamb chops. Everything was cooked to perfection, the cocktails were very good and the ambience was gorgeous! We were in all of just how beautiful the restaurant really is. What's also nice is that it's small and intimate. Can't wait to go back. read more

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The ambiance is amazing...the service was excellent and the food...5 star standard.... My wife had the tuna (we had just come back from Hawaii last weekend and she had lots of Ahi tuna)...she said this was the best tuna she has tasted.... I had the 8 oz filet...cooked perfectly. Highly recommend this restaurant.... You won't be disappointed read more

Symposia Detroit - Desserts Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Excellent date night spot! It is decorated so pretty and is very clean inside. The food is delicious, we ordered the short rib and chocolate cake for desert from the three course meal menu option. It is a little pricy, for example the cocktails are 17 dollars which I find to be way overpriced. But the food was decently priced. The staff is probably the friendliest I have ever encountered. The waiter and hostess made sure we had a great experience from the time we walked in until we walked out. I would recommend those to come here to park with valet because they validate the parking. We were unaware about before hand and had to pay. read more

This restaurant opened in the Atheneuum hotel about a month ago. The service was excellent. The waiter, manager and owner came by and chatted which was really nice. For a brand new restaurant I was impressed because the timing of the food was very smooth and you couldn't really tell it was brand new. Food wise things ranged from good to great. The bread service was nice and the better was whipped. The octopus was a little chewy so not sure I'd get it again. The ribeye was cooked perfectly. The stars imo were the creamed spinach because it's served spanikopita style and the puff pastry is so good and the beer angnolotti which they made vegetarian for my husband. It was a little pricey but it was a nice experience and we would definitely come back! read more

Symposia Detroit - Ribeye and beet angnolotti and the creamed spinach - Desserts Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Prior to attending a play nearby, we made reservations at Symposia for an early dinner. Upon arriving at the Atheneum Hotel, we were greeted by the restaurant hostess, who escorted us to our booth seating. A very nice touch. We ended up being the only restaurant patrons for over 90 minutes. Our server/sommelier was very knowledgeable about the menu, wines & cocktails and history of the hotel & restaurant. The menu was a balanced combination of steaks, fish and seafood. Our scallops & branzino dishes were excellent. Beet salad and carrot side dishes complimented the meal well. All prices were reasonable. The restaurant, which has been open for about a year, has a very comfortable, subtly-lit and well-spaced vibe. We look forward to visiting in the future. read more

This restaurant is in the first floor of a hotel. I made a reservation for Saturday at 7:30 and we got there at 7:39. The hostess asked us to wait. We waited. We were seated and the vibe seemed awesome. The first odd thing was, I tried to order a drink when the server came to the table and he told me it would be easier for him to get all the drink orders at once and then he bring them out. I was kind of bummed because I was working all day and wanted this cocktail. He did bring the cocktail so I didn't wait. Then we ordered drinks and they took a little longer than I expected to come out. We ordered appetizers and they were all tasty, although the octopus was cold. My friend ordered the prime rib medium and said it was burnt on the outside, she sent it back and got a new one but this time it wasn't pink on the inside how she wanted but it wasn't burnt either. My lamb chops were very good. When we asked for checks at the end it took atleast 20 minutes to get our cards back. Everyone at our table thought it was a long time. We asked the manager and he just gave it to the server who we were already waiting on. The server was super friendly at the end and I can tell he tried, but maybe the kitchen and management didn't support him ? Nonetheless I expected more from this restaurant and everything was sub par but aesthetically it's beautiful. I would not go back. I recommend the staff working together. read more

Symposia Detroit - Calamari and octopus - Desserts Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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Came here on a double date and we were not disappointed! We were served by Noah, he was very accommodating and made our night very enjoyable. Food was very enjoyable and filling. Our favorite was the beet agnolotti and the prime filet! read more

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My wife and I booked a reservation through their website for 7:45. They state clearly on the website that they have a 15-minute late arrival window, so when we encountered a stand-still traffic jam on the way, I called and spoke to the hostess. She was very nice and said that it was no big deal. When we valeted and arrived shortly after 8pm the manager asked us to "wait in the lobby" and this was not the welcome I expected, particularly after being stuck very hungry in a traffic jam. After my frustrations were expressed, we were seated in one of the several empty tables one of which we had already reserved. I was already annoyed by this. Noah was our server and he was the highlight of the evening. Soft spoken and attentive, he brought our bottle of wine and the delicious bread/butter/tapenade starter. I ordered the lamb chops, my wife ordered the ribeye, we also ordered three sides: spinach pie (deconstructed), roasted carrots, and roasted potatoes. Noah offered my wife the option to add a lobster tail to her meal, which she did. The lobster tail was delicious, albeit a bit small for the $48!!! Add on price. (To a $56 a la carte ribeye that was a terrible cut of meat). Of course the lobster add on price isn't on the menu, and shame on us for not asking. The spinach pie was the star of the show. We absolutely hated the dry, firm, super spicy carrots that weren't even hot when served. They were terrible. The roasted potatoes were fine, nothing special. My biggest gripe with Symposia is the price versus quality. The ribeye had so much fat and connective tissue that it was difficult to even cut with a steak knife. For $56 medium rare that baby should be perfect. The lamb chops were even worse. One lamb chop was so tough and fatty it was almost inedible, while a second (of 4 total) was badly burned and tasted only of char. The zip sauce that accompanied my wife's steak was too sweet for either of our taste buds. For well over $300 ($327 before the $60 tip) for two people, I expected a much more refined, elegant meal, and we were left feeling like we received Texas Roadhouse quality. The chocolate cake dessert and olive oil vanilla gelato was a bit of a saving grace at the end, but I doubt we will return to this restaurant, even though the restaurant itself is very beautiful inside. We even mentioned that we were celebrating our 10 year anniversary in the reservation, and it wasn't even acknowledged. read more

Symposia Detroit - Dessert. The star of the night! - Desserts Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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Beautiful restaurant, great vibes. Quiet, dark, and very comfortable. Food presentation was great. I had the Blue Fin Tuna with a side of the Roasted Carrots. The tuna was cooked perfectly, and the carrots were sweet with a bit of heat. My girlfriend had the salmon with a side of brussel sprouts that she enjoyed. Service was top notch, we had 3 people constantly keeping our water filled and making sure we had everything we wanted. Would give this 4.5 if I could. read more

Restaurant was a nice space. Not overly crowded or loud. The food was ok but felt like nothing special to draw us back. Service was prompt and polite. read more

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Let's start here, this is real Detroit gem. Greektown has been an anchor of Detroit nightlife for as long as I can remember. Everyone had their favorites, but in the end most of it seemed largely the same, gooey moussaka, boiled green beans, greasy lamb chops. In short, "meh." So imagine a Greek meal elevated to fine dining in a beautiful setting with an attentive, professional staff. That is Symposia. The first thing that you will notice on the menu is that almost none of the dishes look familiar, even though all the flavors and ingredients are. This is because, this is not your grandmother's favorite Greek restaurant. While that may be a little scary, it is also exciting to see some really unfamiliar flavor profiles on the menu. This should not deter you. We dined in a group of four and shared a bunch of dishes. To start, you will receive a basket of fresh-baked breads, including an herbed flatbread to go with your house tapenade and soft butter. All delicious. For starts we tried the grilled octopus, a beet appetized on whipped feta, and a green salad. The octopus was supple and tasted of the char from the grill, the whipped feta and beets had amazing flavor with a nice coriander punch, the salad was tossed in the kitchen and spit for the four of us without any issues. On the mains, we had a ribeye, lobster bucatini, a sliced veggie dish and creamed spinach. As to the ribeye, we asked for the staff to cook it medium rare and slice it for service at the table. The temp was spot on perfect and like the octopus came out tasting of a nice char from the grill. The lobster bucatini was probably the weakest dish, but solid. While not a powerhouse of flavor, the lobster was well prepared and not rubbery. As to to the sides, the veg dish bore a striking resemblance to a ratatouille and was outstanding. I still don't understand how one makes sliced squash taste good, but they did it. Lastly, the creamed spinach was the surprise of the night, not just because of its flavor. The dish is prepared in what is best described as a phyllo pie shell. The spinach is creamy, rich and tasty, and the shell gives a crispy textural contrast and toasty flavor. We share the olive oil cake and flourless chocolate cake. The olive oil had a gorgeous citrous taste and firm spongy texture, and chocolate was unctuous and to die for. I don't often eat meals with unique flavor profiles -- it is a downside of living in a city with so many wonderful ethnic foods at hand -- we just don't often see anything new anymore even though there is so much to choose from. Do NOT miss this. BTW the price was excellent. Less than a $75 a head with appetizers and a nice bottle of wine. No pics, but everything that came out of the kitchen looked beautiful and appetizing. Also, the atmosphere was lively, but still conducive to conversation -- not too noisy. read more

Beautiful restaurant. Amazing food. We had the Spanish octopus appetizer - soft and delicious. Not rubbery. For entrees I got the prime filet - delicious. My husband got the branzino. Best fish he's ever had he said. Brussel sprouts were amazing too - they are shredded and has the perfect amount of truffles in it. My drink was called Libertarian. Good and different. read more

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We had a wonderful evening at Symposia! Our team wait staff of Noah and Michael were a joy and our food was magnificent. Can't say enough positive things about our experience. From being able to valet our car at no expense, to the polite and fun staff of Noah, Michael and Reza the manager, to the complementary bread with an amazing olive spread, to our appetizer (roasted beets w/ whipped feta), main course (lamb chops & branzino) and dessert (crème brûlée' & lemon sorbetto) - all were fantastic!!! We happened to be in town from Ann Arbor 45 minutes away and stumbled upon Symposia when looking at other Yelp reviews. So glad we did. We'll definitely be back even though it will be a 45 minute drive. It will be well worth the trip. Thank you Reza and TEAM for a most enjoyable dinner! read more

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Just heard about this place. Saw I only 1 review, but looked good in the pictures. Definitely worth going to in Detroit. Once you are inside the hotel, then restaurant, it feels like you are in your own little world. We had awesome service from Noah, and the whole team worked together to be attentive. Food was great / had a lot of things - calamari, NY strip, filet, salmon, agnolotti, and a couple rounds of cocktails. read more

The restaurant was empty so I was nervous upon arrival however the experience exceeded my expectations. Service was top tier. The Branzino fish was cooked perfectly complimented with a flavorful Mediterranean salsa. The lobster Mac was the chefs choice side which I opted for and it was phenomenal. I will be returning to try other items. Thank you for a great experience read more

Do yourself a favor and try Symposia. The food was amazing - the drinks were delicious and the service was wonderful! We had the roasted beet salad (sooo good), the filet which was cooked to our exact request and it even comes with a few roasted potatoes and asparagus which was not expected, the carrots oh the carrots were sooo yummy and the garlic whipped potatoes were just perfect! The restaurant was not initially busy when we first showed up; however it got busier as we were there. Such an amazing experience for my hubbys birthday dinner! Thank you Symposia. read more

I really enjoyed the short rib and Brussel sprouts! The beet appetizer and lobster bucatini could have passed on. It was pretty dead for a Friday night inside and much smaller than I thought. read more

The ambiance was beautiful! The food was great & the lamb chops were the best I've ever had, I swear by them. Service was excellent 10/10 I recommend. read more

Symposia Detroit - Australian Lamb Chops - Desserts Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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Hands down, the best meal I've ever had in Detroit. Located inside a hotel, they offer free valet service. Montgomery was our server and delivered impeccably. We started out with crafted cocktails and appetizers of the olives and feta. The Spanish octopus was a very large potion and cooked perfectly with charred bits, tender and delicious. The wine list was intimidating with a large variety. We selected a Cabernet that was percent to pair with the meal choices. The list steered away from the fruity wines of California, our wine was perfect. The entrees were the large baked whole fish and the ribeye. Outrageously delicious and perfectly seasoned and cooked. The fish was deboned and stuffed with lemons. The flesh was flaky and tasty. The ribeye was probably the best I've had in my life! Our sides were the sweet shredded Brussels sprouts, the creamed, garlicky spinach and the mashed potatoes. Out of all of this, the mashed potatoes was the only dish that was mediocre. I could easily eat the sides daily. We finished with coffees and a dessert of lemon gelato served in a lemon shell and the olive oil cake. Omg! What a wonderful ending to the best meal. The gelato had a clean crisp finish with delightful sprinkling of sugar crystals. The cake served with a rich caramel sauce and candied walnuts. Neither was overly sweet and complimented the coffee. Wish I took pictures, but was enjoying the moment way too much. If in Detroit, and have the desire for a dinner that wows you, please stop by. read more

Amazing place and impeccable service! Food was absolutely delicious and they have a shuttle to the arenas/theaters.

Incredible restaurant. Food is exquisite! Reza, the manager, is both congenial and accommodating. Noah was an incedible server. I can highly recommend the calamari. Very tender. The Branzino was delicious. read more

Had dinner Sept 2 to celebrate my birthday and wedding anniversary with my son and his wife who was also celebrating their wedding anniversary. We had a great waiter who made our dinner complete. All four of us had something different and share with each other every entree was delicious. The restaurant decor is amazing it make you feel that you are somewhere special. I recommend this place for anyone looking for an intimate and special place to enjoy a great meal we thought the restaurant were larger and were very please to be disappointed. It reminded us of the beautiful intimate restaurant we went to in Paris, France. P.S THE PARKING IS VALIDATED BY RESTAURANT read more

Great date night! Our waiter, Eric, was wonderful. Beautiful restaurant, great food. Our waiter is also a sommelier and recommended a fabulous wine. How does everyone not know about this restaurant? read more

This restaurant is located inside of a hotel. Our food was good and the staff was friendly. We were surprised it wasn't busier on a Friday evening, we'll definitely be back again. read more

Symposia Detroit - Cloud nine - Desserts Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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The food was amazing. The branzino was exquisite. My significant other loved his short ribs and the service was on point. I'd highly recommend. read more

What's all the hype about? I want my two hours of life back. To start. The mater D or manager literally hovers, paces, and stares everyone down in the restaurant while they are dining. It's Like he's just waiting for someone to dine and dash or something. My food was lackluster at best, others that I dined with had to send food back because of problems and a young lady got sick off of the seafood while we were there. Extremely small restaurant. Pictures and videos must be using an extra long lens. More like a speakeasy than a full restaurant. All in all disappointing, it did not live up to all the hype, and not somewhere that I would recommend. read more

Amazing experience for a new restaurant the food and service was great , the restaurant free valet read more

Symposia Detroit - The restaurant inside the hotel and valet was complementary for guest - Desserts Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

i'm not sure how i stumbled across this restaurant located in greektown, but i'm so glad i did. i will admit, i was a little skeptical about coming here since i didn't see too many reviews or pictures of food from other yelpers. i figured it must be a newer establishment. they are located on the main floor of the atheneum hotel and offer free valet parking which is great. both the service and food were great, they have an elaborate selection of wine, but most importantly their prices are amazing! i specifically came here because i was craving lamb chops but did not want to break the bank at the other steakhouses in the city. i was honestly taken aback when the server brought out my plate. i was not expecting to get 4 thick cut lamb chops for only $56usd! the mashed potatoes where so creamy, and if you're a garlic lover you'll for sure appreciate the garlic confit on the potatoes. the creamed spinach is served in a pie form. overall, this restaurant did not disappoint and it was only right to leave them a great review and hopefully they get more and more exposure. read more

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The octopus was perfectly cooked, the Bronzino was delicious, sides were very good, drinks are really good, service is casual but professional. Highly recommended! read more