This place is amazing. The drinks were perfectly made (even the off menu ones I ordered) and the food was delectable. I only wish I had room for more! The portions are incredible. This place I originally thought was over priced until I saw the sizes! You definitely get your money's worth. The Seared Tuna Steak I had was the best thick cut tuna I've ever had and had a peppery crust that I can't get out of my head. I would recommend and will definitely be back! read more

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I totally love this place ! We had the best dining experience we got a cozy table by the window The bread with sweet butter, the ice cold beer the great drinks . The portion are great. Our waitress was fabulous. If you want a really good meal go to The Blue Ox read more

Drinks are amazing, had a Rum Runner and it was tastey. Had a flat bread and spicy chicken wings which were to dye for. For dinner had the fillet mignon which was tender, juicy and flavorful. Dawn LaPusta was our server, best sever ever and was absolutely wonderful. Unbelievable dinner and would definitely give it five stars. A must go to restaurant read more

The Blue Ox - Filiet Mignon - New American Near Me - Lynn, Massachusetts

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The Blue Ox has been a staple for us since they opened. Serving inspired upscale food that is a joy to experience. Great salads and killer entrees. Plus they serve the most decadent burgers on the North Shore. They prepare their food with flair. Cool vibe and great drinks. The Blue Ox brings fine dining to downtown Lynn without the pretense. Highly recommended. read more

Ryan was absolutely incredible. His service, knowledge, and recommendations were spot on. The Blue Ox is very lucky to have him! The food was great. We had the Tuna Tartare, Oysters, and the Sin burger. All delicious. read more

Amazing food! Great atmosphere and the drinks are unparalleled! The oysters were extremely fresh and their mignonette is great. Staff was so on point! Knowledgeable, attentive and very nice. I had the swordfish special and my sister got the hanger steak. Both were delicious and portions where just right. Not the tiny portions some places of this caliber serve. Not cheap but well worth it! read more

We are staying nearby at an AirBnB and found this on Yelp! with some good reviews. So, we came by for dinner. We started with Street corn. Truly very good appetizer. Kris ordered the Ox wings. Really good wings a bit spicy after a few bites. As a side, the grilled asparagus. Really really good! I got that Sinburger with a side of mashed sweet potatoes. The burger was good and the sweets were good as well. Service was really good and I would recommend this place to have dinner on a date or a business meeting! The atmosphere is very nice with plenty of room. Love the ceilings and the bar area. Great music in the background. read more

The Blue Ox - New American Near Me - Lynn, Massachusetts

We were passing through and used yelp to find a quick place to eat. The service was quick and the staff was pleasant. A main course will run you between 15 and 45 and then add drinks appetizers and desert. Expensive, but the place has a pleasant ambiance. The breas was good and the spiced butter whip was great. The clam chowder was piquant and very tasty. However the famous burger was a salt mine. I couldn't finish it and have been drinking glasses of water for hours afterwards. I'd explore other options before returning read more

The Blue Ox - Famous burger that is filled with sodium - New American Near Me - Lynn, Massachusetts

Absolutely phenomenal! Myself and a group of friends came for dinner after a trip up to Salem and we are so glad we did! The cocktails were delicious (two of us got the Salted Caramel Apple and one got the Sophisticated Rickey, I believe it was called?) and the bread with maple butter that came out with them was a perfect blend of savory and sweet. I got the New England Crab Cake as an entree along with a "side" of the Herb French Fries. I was floored by how many French fries I got! I expected a much smaller portion but it's a whole basket. The crab cake was the best I've ever had! My boyfriend got the Sin Burger and he stated it was by far the best burger he's ever eaten, and he's quite the burger connoisseur. My friends got the Filet Mignon and a cod dish (if I remember correctly) and they loved their food as well. My friend who ordered the filet mignon is also an upscale chef who is quite critical of his food when we go out but he had zero "nitpicks" in this trip, which was a first for me to experience with him! Our server (I believe his name was Eric?) was a sweetheart and was very knowledgeable of the menu and specials. He was very prompt with coming over, but never hovered which was nice. Oh, and we were nearly half an hour early for our reservation since traffic wasn't as bad as we anticipated, but they sat us immediately! We were expecting to wait a little but were pleasantly surprised that they took us right in. All in all, we were so glad that I stumbled upon this restaurant while scrolling Yelp for places to eat in the Salem area. We all agreed that we would gladly make the 2 hour pilgrimage from our homes in Western Mass just to return to get some delicious grub! I wish I could have one of those crab cakes every day! read more

The Blue Ox - "Side" of Herb French Fries, Crispy New England Crab Cake, and Salted Caramel Apple martini! - New American Near Me - Lynn, Massachusetts

If you're going to be in the area (perhaps a show at the Lynn Auditorium) make a reservation for 2 hours before and head on over. It's a bit loud but it's cozy and the service is good. The warm bread with the tasty butter to start is very good. We got the onion hummus and baked Brie to start. They were both delicious. There were these slightly pickled veggies in adjusting to the pita bread with the hummus and it was glorious. The baked Brie was so tasty. I split the burger and Caesar salad with my sister which were both just okay. Our dad got the lamb special which was fall of the bone wonderful. Our mom got the salmon which she said was very tasty. I would definitely go again. read more

Love this spot! Have been here many times over the years and would highly recommend over ledger in Salem.

My boyfriend and I came here for dinner last night for an early birthday dinner. Everything was perfect from start to finish. Service: 10/10 amazing! Never had to wait for anything, always had our waters refilled, empty dishes cleared from our table immediately. I cannot remember our waitresses name but she was fabulous. We were on the dining side, and I think her name started with an S. Food: 10/10 AMAZING! The bread with the honey butter was heavenly. We got the truffle fries for an appetizer and they were perfect. For our entrees, I got the Cod. I was unsure how I felt about the creamed corn because I've never had it before, but it was so good. The portions were huge. I still have half my meal for lunch today! My bf got the shrimp scampi and he wolfed down the entire dish and said it was the best he ever had. For dessert we got the sticky toffee pudding (with a scoop of vanilla ice cream per our waitresses recommendation) and the creme brûlée. Both deserts were devoured. Delicious. Drinks: 10/10! Neither of us drink alcohol. Sometimes when we got out for dinner it feels kind of awkward ordering a soda, and servers can push drinks, but this was not the case at all last night. Our waitresses kindly told us all soda options, and juices options as well. Everything was perfect and we cannot wait to come back. read more

This was an unexpected find but very satisfying. After a long day at Nahant beach, this meal hit the spot. I ordered the pan roasted cod with potato hash, poblano spinach cream, radish and pea green salad. The mix of flavors and texture was perfect between the flaky, light cod and flavorful hash. It was the perfect balance. We got here right at 5 so there was plenty of seating, staff was great and the place seems a bit more upscale but we arrived in our beach gear and didn't feel out of place. My boyfriend got the Bolognese and loved it as well. I would definitely come back to try more, the menu looked incredible! read more

The Blue Ox - Pan Roasted Cod - New American Near Me - Lynn, Massachusetts

Always good! Dependable and consistent! Once I wasn't happy and they made it right! Wings are awesome, tuna and chips are amazing (that's my favorite), and the demi glaze on the steak and frites is soooo good! read more

I am a Blue ox aficionado. I was disappointed this Tuesday night by the poor service and inept bartender. He served my friend a 3/4 of a beer because he could not get the tap to work properly. He did not even ask us what we wanted for dinner. He left us waiting and waiting for our order. Maybe he was overwhelmed, but the lack of service was not what we had come to love about Blue ox. The oysters were delicious, but we had to ask for silverware, plates and napkins. The burger was greasy, the fries soggy. Perhaps go on a night other than a Tuesday, because this was a total disappointment. read more

The Lobster Scampi is absolutely hands down one of the best meals I've ever had. 11/10 read more

The Blue Ox - Lobster scampi - New American Near Me - Lynn, Massachusetts

One of my top 3 favorites on the north shore! It never disappoints accept when I can't get a reservation. The best burger anywhere the wings are awesome. I've had most things on their menu. The drinks are inventive and they always have a good bourbon cocktail, I love it! read more

The lamb is incredible. The menu changes every so often so it may not be there forever. But everything is fantastic and a lot of stuff is made in house (such as pasta). Great drinks/digestifs menu too. The food here is so perfect and it's nice to find this gem in downtown Lynn. Great gluten free options. read more

Booked this by myself on OpenTable. It was the hostess's third shift working but she was still able to tell me all about the menu and make recommendations when she sat me. It seems she loves coming there so much she decided to work there! My waiter Matthew was extremely pleasant and always made sure I was taken care of. I had the baked Brie and the sin burger. They give you so much Brie I probably should have just stuck with that one dish because by the time I finished I could only eat half the burger! Their fries are also amazing That being said, the food here is great, the service is great, and I wish I had left room for dessert. Parking can be cumbersome, but I got the last spot left at the bank on the corner. read more

The Blue Ox - The baked Brie! - New American Near Me - Lynn, Massachusetts

Went here for Easter lunch today. Everything was great until the entree ‍ Bread and butter was perfect, then we got the baked Brie for an appetizer which was also delicious. Drinks were yummy too! For my entree I ordered the Caesar salad with steak... I didn't want anything too big for lunch. The Caesar salad literally looked and tasted like it came straight out of a premade salad bag you would buy at the grocery store. Little square flavorless croutons, flavorless dressing, had to ask the waiter to basically pour pepper all over it to give it a little flavor. Steak on the side was good. I know it's just a salad but come on! It was just shocking to come from such a nice restaurant. Went to a family gathering afterwards and told them about it and they said they've had it too and were shocked about how bad it was. Definitely will go back but will be sure to steer clear of the salad. read more

The praise that precedes this gastro pub makes it suspect. Guess what? It lives up to the hype. It's hard to imagine a spot so out of the way in greater Boston that tops all the burgers in popularity, yearly, in greater Boston. The Blue Ox does it. Again. And again. And again. So we tried it. It's a good spot. Wings and two burgers were all that were tried but why get anything else when those can be had? The wings are crisp and juicy. Coated in a sweet honey hot sauce, they are tender but not dry. They are drizzled with a feta tarragon reduction that is sweet and smooth. Plump wings. The Sin Burger ($17) is a full on half pound burger that is presented as a burger that won't arrive looking like a pink burger due to additions to the meat. The reaction between the meat and the additives make the meat turn a grey color. Gross, right? Well, in this case, it works. Damn well. The additive is molasses. Has to be. Think hard while you're sampling and you'll taste it. A rich blend of beef, this burger flows with juices. The burger is definitely cooked to the requested temperature but it wouldn't be obvious based on visual observations. The bun is a fluffy brioche variation that holds the juices in the neat package. Topped with LTM and swiss cheese. The Blue Ox Burger ($17) is a stuffed burger, or two I should say. This burger is two sliders topped with LTM and bacon on a smaller version of the same bun used for the Sin Burger. Center filled with gorgonzola cheese, the goopy goodness spills from the center of the patty. Service at the bar is friendly and efficient. Worth the detour to Lynn. read more

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A group of 3 went to The Blue Ox early on a Sunday, luckily they open at 4. We were literally the first people there and the waitstaff was still in a meeting when we first sat. Bread (free) - The bread came out warm, given the style of bread I was surprised that it was warm and the butter it came with was excellent Tuna Tartare - It's tuna tartare, not much else to say. It was real good. Baked Stuffed Brie - It was more of a dip, had lots of flavor. I think truffle oil too. Lobster Tacos - I am always underwhelmed by lobster dishes, and this was no exception. The lobster taco is more like a lobster salad taco, just not my thing. Sin Burger - The Sin Burger was the real star item on the menu here, and the truffle mayo was an outstanding addition. This would be my "go to" item here. read more

The Blue Ox - Tuna tartar - New American Near Me - Lynn, Massachusetts

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My wife & I spent Valentine's Day here with a 6:30 reservation. This is a very popular eat in Lynn and for good reason! Excellent food with excellent original drinks offered. Service was very good & the seating was tight but enough. read more

Ah, a Saturday night. What a lovely time to come to the gorgeous city of Lynn for dinner at the Blue Ox. After getting much shit from my friends and family about being a South End Snob Foodie, I decided to make a Sat. night reservation at 8:00pm. They were quite accommodating; at first we got put in the corner like children who had misbehaved but then after pretending it was my friend's birthday they placed at a nice two-top in the main dining room area. The waitress was perfectly fine; not too enthusiastic about her job but at least she did her job just fine. Our orders were placed; lobster tacos, beer, Malbec wine, Tuna Tar Tar, and the Gnocchi. Everything was going pretty smoothly until we were getting ready to pay our bill and finish our drinks when the four-top next to us got in the most random of loud fights for absolutely no reason. I had spotted this dude early on in the night: white sneaks, check. White pressed shirt, check. Glistening bald head + slutty looking girlfriend rocking sandals in 40 degree weather; check check. Out of NOWHERE The dude started getting angry about literally NOTHING, threw his napkin down, the girlfriend stormed out, and they made a big scene. Not only did we have 2nd hand embarrassment but it sort of solidified the obvious: Don't go to Lynn unless you about that life (see attached photo). Food was really good, though, and service was great, just the atmosphere well, is Lynn Lyfe. read more

Has gone down hill substantially since changing hands. Nothing to really distinguish it, and the food is often over cooked and oily. We used to be regulars, but after the last 3-4 visits it is clear that the new management has taken this once good, well priced restaurant with simple and yet appetizing well prepared and presented food, with great service delivered by courteous and knowledgeable staff is alas, no longer. read more

Wow. I am blown away with how good the Blue Ox is. The Blue Ox is located on Oxford Street (get it?) in Lynn and I hope is the beginning of a foodie revolution in a city that has seen better days but is finally showing some renewal. I just moved back to Massachusetts from Philadelphia, where one of the celeb chefs is Jose Garces, now an Iron Chef. I have eaten at his Village Whiskey restaurant and the Blue Ox reminds me of it. In fact, it just might be a little better. The ambiance is warm and "local," comfortable but special. Exposed brick and hardwood, local art and a great cocktail menu gives it a very hip vibe. The location and mix of young and old locals in-the-know means you've found the place right before it explodes in popularity and people start making the trek from Boston and the further suburbs. Get here while you can still get a table. Arriving at the Blue Ox we found free parking right in front. Our reservations were honored and we were seated right away at a great window front table. Our server could not have been nicer and more knowledgeable. I have found my new favorite drink! The Bourbon Bees Knees is Evan Williams Honey bourbon, triple sec, and fresh lemon juice with a lemon twist. Beyond delicious. The crab cake appetizer was a thing of beauty. There were so many wonderful dishes and specials to choose from but we kept to our original plan of burgers. I ordered the Blue Ox burgers - two slider-sized burgers, perfectly flame-grilled stuffed with blue cheese, topped with bacon and served with deliciously spiced french fries. There are correctly no salt and pepper shakers on the table; everything was perfectly seasoned. My husband ordered the Sin burger which had applewood smoked bacon, Swiss, and truffle mayo and paired it with the Harpoon Island Creek Oyster Stout, which in and of itself is a reason to go to the Blue Ox because it is a 100 barrel series and a very rare find. He said tasting the stout alone, it was good; paring with the truffle burger took the meal and drink to a whole new level. Overall, a WONDERFUL dinner. We will absolutely be back. read more

The Blue Ox - Crab Cake Appetizer - New American Near Me - Lynn, Massachusetts

Met up with my family here for my birthday. I'm in Brighton. They came down from Maine so I searched Yelp for the Peabody area so they didn't have to come into the city. I'd never been to Lynn before. As I drove through town, I wondered if I should roll my windows up and lock the doors. I certainly was second guessing my restaurant choice. This ended up being my best birthday gift I could've ever asked for. Everything was good...everything. Even the damn butter. The sourdough bread with maple butter... great start. The Caesar salad was solid - not the best I've had, but among the best. But that burger. Oh my f'n lord that burger. Lifechanging good. The fries were incredible. I'm 6'4 and about 250 these days... I got about halfway through the burger and fries before I gave up. But fortunately there was some downtime before the waitress came around to ask about dessert... after reading your reviews, we made sure to have one - even though we were all in pain. We all split a chocolate cake slice and the cinnamon ice cream. Both, as expected by this point, were amazing. This place is just simply incredible. Reasonably pricy. read more

The Blue Ox - New American Near Me - Lynn, Massachusetts

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Very good food. The chicken was well done and tasty. The bread is fantastic. Good mix of beer and cocktails. Informal environment. Would not suggest the spinach but aside from that.. very good. Highly recommend the potatoes. read more

Looks like a hole in wall But full every time we go We have not Been disappointed with the food or service yet (price high but worth it) read more

Love, love The Blue Ox! Food is amazing, as is the service. There is parking & it is not in a sketchy area at all. I had a fabulous birthday dinner here. The bread is amazing - tried the butter but did not need it. All three of us enjoyed our meals - swordfish, shrimp scampi, and the scallop special. Food was prepared very quickly. Portions were decent sized - not enough for another full meal, but definitely had leftovers. I had the chocolate layer cake for dessert & my sister had the tiramisu. Both were excellent. I would go back tonight, if I could - need to plan my next visit, that is how much I loved this restaurant. read more

Came for valentines day, the Saturday before, ordered the crispy half chicken which was not crispy at all, it was sitting in a puddle of spinach juice, i asked for no spinach, very fatty, same with the wings we got for an appetizer, when the waitress noticed my plate had spinach on it she blamed the kitchen crew and didn't help me at all LOL never again like really ? read more

I've been frequenting this restaurant since it was the Oxford Street Grill (late 1990's). Then it became the Blue Ox with Matt and his bartenders which were great. The chef and food were great. Now it's changed ownership and the quality of the food and service has gone downhill. I frequent this restaurant regularly because I want it to succeed. I've complained about the food a few times. An example, a couple of weeks ago, I complained to wait staff and bartender that my food was over salted, I was ignored. Tonight, I ordered the cod dish and, although the fish was warm, the remainder was cold. The manager's reply was "I'm sorry". Never did he ask if I wanted it to be replaced and nor did he reduce my tab of $89.00; not even take off a glass of wine. I love supporting the businesses in my community, but I like quality food. Will I go back? read more

Was visiting my sister who lives in Lynn and happen to find this restaurant, we were the only ones there and the staff was so nice to us made us feel welcome, than it got busy, the ambience the bartender dan and Brenden were so great they talked and made you feel like you were important. I was so impressed I Will definitely go back again. And the r tuna tartare was to day for . read more

We went for mothers day 2014. Had a good meal but hadnt realized you cant get the normal menu items on holidays so watch when you book. We found the lobster tacos a little spicy though delicious if you could handle that Tuna tartare is huge and delicious! Chips are an awesome way to eat it Sibling rivalry is great if you don't like sweet cocktails. read more

Yum yum yum. Highly recommend, steaks were juicy! I want happy they didn't have baked potatoes

We had a great time at The Blue Ox in Lynn, MA in these difficult times of Covid-19. They were so careful with everything that made us forget about the pandemic for the time we were there. It felt really safe. The food was excellent. We had the freshest tuna tartare ever, the decadent "Sin" burger w/ hand cut fries, calamari (featuring a superb marinara sauce with Harissa), lobster tacos, and the special lobster pasta. I cannot recall a day I ate so well. We shared everything and they even brought the plates with the shared portions ready so we didn't have to pick from each other's plates (you can if you want, like we did). For drinks, we had wine and it was very good. Great experience, I do recommend it, and cannot wait for another visit. read more

This rating is a struggle. Struggle in that I am between a 3/4. The ox has always been a 5 to me, hands down my fave restaurant on the north shore, but things have def changed. I really hate to say that because I want nothing more than success for all small businesses especially the one so have loved for many, many years. Service wasn't great, but most notable difference is food quality. It used to feel each dish was made with the utmost care; the food tonight looked and felt more like a big fast paced environment. The food just didn't have the love. I can't really find the right words, but anyone who was an ox lover long ago will know exactly what I mean. The plus, the bread has not changed and the tuna tartare was delish. read more

I've heard so many good things about the Blue Ox from my Lynn friends, and my girlfriend treated me to dinner here on my birthday. It is in the heart of downtown Lynn, probably not well known for it's dining (although those who know about Tacos Lupita may think differently). Initially I was concerned about street parking, but the Eastern Bank lot is available for customers during dinner hours. The hostess and staff were very friendly and seated us immediately. The place is beautiful and clean inside with high ceilings, exposed brick, and generous space between tables. The lighting could be a little dimmer but all around very impressive. We started with the lemon hummus plate; we agreed it was some of the BEST hummus we've ever had. All of the entrees looked amazing and are priced well in the $15 to $ 25 range. I was sold on the pan-roasted cod - until the waitress dropped one of the specials: sea scallops with lobster risotto and arugula. YES PLEASE. My lovely girlfriend got the veal saltimbocca with melted fontina. Both entrees were absolutely amazing. However, the scallops were slightly underdone and I had to request they cook them more. They were nice enough to give me some fresh scallops and stack a little more risotto on there. My girlfriend's veal was also quite rare. Regardless, we were both speechless as we enjoyed our meals. No room for dessert. Ah well, next time. Love this place! read more

The Blue Ox - New American Near Me - Lynn, Massachusetts

I would like to start by saying that both myself and my boyfriend have been in the industry for 15 years and actually DESPISE Yelp reviews that are overly critical of a restaurant and unreasonable. Everyone has bad days, Chefs, servers, managers, everyone. But when given an opportunity to make it right and refusing because "this isn't our typical service" you get a Yelp review. Yes, AFTER walking out and cooling down I called to talk to the manager because going to a restaurant is about a dining EXPERIENCE, not just to eat. I can eat food at tons of great places, but I chose this restaurant for a dining experience and hoped that the manager would recognize that and offer something to make it right aside from comping our food that we didn't get to eat. Ok now to the background. My boyfriend and I are from Boston but moved to the west coast 7 years ago and are visiting for my 30th birthday and a friends wedding. We drove an hour and a half in rush hour traffic to take our Dad who is blind here to celebrate my birthday. Made a reservation for 6:30, ended up getting there at 6:45. We had our 3 year old with us as well which was a factor in choosing a restaurant. The kids menu looked great and the restaurant was highly recommended by a friend in the industry that lives in Lynn. It's been years since we have seen our Dad so we wanted to make it special. Ok here's the bullet points - server super impersonal - no greet, dont even know the guys name -asked for a drink order prematurely, we had just sat down and when we did order he brought water for everyone with no offer to bring something for our daughter. -we ordered the tuna tartare, brie, 2 SIN burgers, & kids pasta all at once - we asked for burgers Medium-Rare & Medium to which the server responded "even our rare burgers have no pink because theres a lot of stuff in them" what does that mean and why are you taking temps if that's the case. - apps came out quickly and tasted great, kids pasta did not come out with apps - waited 30 minutes AFTER APPS WERE CLEARED to even mention the food was taking long after server tried to sell more drinks without mentioning the long ticket time. - server went to check on food at 7:47 and said "it should be out shortly" **At this point I am outside with my toddler running up and down the block because it's been an hour, she hasn't eaten and shes loosing it*** - our Dad asked at this point "how long exactly" to which the server responded "they are taking it off the grill right now" - At 8:05 we got up to walk out because the food still wasnt out and the manager (Gretchen) stopped us to offer to let us take the food to go because it was ready. - my boyfriend expresses his discontent, was empathetic that mistakes happen but at no point did anyone communicate with us including her. So we left and after 30 min I called saying that I understand these these happen but seeing as we cant come back because we dont live here I asked that the manager consider sending a gift card to our Dad who lives in Lynn to come back. It is the only time we had with him this trip and to be quite honest it ruined our night. She was appalled that I would suggest such a thing after she gave us free food. REALLY??! I even said let me leave you with his information and you can do with it what you will. She refused. So here we are. POOR POOR HOSPITALITY. I dont care about the free food. I care about the experience and since that is not your priority I promise we will not be back. Lastly this would be a zero or 1 star based on hospitality and service alone but I am giving 2 stars because the apps we did have were delicious. Those 2 stars are for you Chef. read more

We got to the Blue Ox at 5:30 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023) so we could make the show at the Lynn Auditorium at 8:00. It took forever to get our drinks and appetizers ordered and delivered. When our food didn't arrive after an hour from ordering it, we asked the waitress about it and she said there was some type of problem with the order, it should be out soon. Well, it didn't arrive so I brought it up to the manager on duty and he said he would look into it. Nothing happened. Finally at 7:45 we had to get to the show and they said if we wait a little longer they could bag it up for us. No thanks...So we left very hungry. I feel bad cuz I was the one who suggested the Blue Ox to begin with based on previous experiences. Never, ever again!!! read more