Great food and service. Oysters and fish done so very well. Dill Caesar salad so refreshing and new - ask for anchovies if you love them. Can't wait to go back read more

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I really wanted to love The Franklin, but unfortunately the experience missed the mark. We arrived at 4:00 p.m. on a Saturday and were the only party in the restaurant for quite some time. The waitress was abrasive from the start and immediately informed us that there was a time limit on our table. Looking back, that's actually pretty comical, considering the restaurant ended up taking far longer than their own stated limit to serve us. We were there celebrating our friend's baby sprinkle and hoped for a relaxed, enjoyable afternoon. Instead, the service was painfully slow. Drinks took an exceptionally long time to arrive, and the wait for our meals was even longer. The delays were so significant that one member of our group eventually had to leave before fully enjoying the gathering. Had the service been friendlier and more attentive, the long waits may have been easier to overlook. But between the abrasive welcome, the slow pace, and the overall lackluster experience, our celebration felt more frustrating than enjoyable. I hate leaving negative reviews, especially because I was genuinely excited to try The Franklin. Unfortunately, this visit did not live up to expectations, and it's not somewhere I'll be rushing back to. read more

This place was really cute. Someone called it a novelty, which I would agree with. We were able to make a same day reservation on a warm summer evening. A couple things went wrong. The outdoor patio had been flooded from last nights storm so it was not open. Also, they lost power last night and because of that there was no oysters and also some of the other raw seafood. The restaurant was super nice and cottagecore vibes. The service was pretty good. We got drinks! My husband had the Manhattan and I had the aperol one. Both were good. We started with the polenta Caesar salad and the monkey bread. Both were good and flavorful. I was looking forward to the lobster roll and it was rather small. Especially for the price. It was like a bun half the size of a hot dog bun. Do not recommend getting for an entree. My husband got the fish and chips and it was one big piece of fish. He liked it though. We will have to come back when the patio is open and there are oysters available. read more

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Great neighborhood restaurant, the seafood was excellent and service was great! They have an awesome garden on the side for events, so definitely worth keeping an eye out for those! We had oysters, a crunch baked fish and their crab cake. Everything was delicious! I don't get dessert often, but their Mississippi mud pie was glorious, and big enough to share! The space is very comfortable and they have a great bar. Highly recommended. read more

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My family dined here on Mother's Day and had a great experience. We made a reservation, which was essential because it was packed! There is a downstairs area (with bar), upstairs area and outdoor seating for when the weather is nicer. We completely lucked out and got the private room upstairs even though we didn't book it specifically. I loved the location being in the historic district, and they did an amazing job with restoring the mill into a cute restaurant. I had scoped everything out ahead of time so had adjusted my expectations for smaller portions and ordered accordingly. Unfortunately they don't have their cocktail menu online and I can't recall the name of what I ordered but it was very good. Everyone in our party was happy with their drinks. For food, we started with the monkey bread (10/10) - outstanding! The Caesar salad was also tasty. I got the mussels, which had really nice flavor and the sausage was a welcome addition - I just wish it had come with an extra toast or 2 for the broth. The smoked sturgeon was interesting - marinated and smoked for hours - you don't find that many places so I had to try, and really enjoyed it but wow the cornbread almost stole the show in that dish. Nobody cared for the pickled vegetables. Burger was a winner and really big actually. Dessert we got an assortment and the fan favorite was the creme brulee. They came and cleared dishes between courses, kept water glasses full, etc. and service was overall pretty top notch. Bill was pricey but it was a special occasion and I would definitely return for another. read more

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The restaurant is located in quaint Franklin and has the benefit of an easy parking lot. A friend and I stopped in on a Friday night. We got lucky that they were able to seat us after a short wait. We were planning on taking seats at the bar (first come). If you want a table, you may want to make reservations. The restaurant is a house, lovely without being pretentious. With low lighting and low nose level, it would be perfect for a date. It has a New England feel, which makes sense as an oyster house, though they offer oysters from both coasts. The service was fantastic, particularly from our server Christina. She was friendly, knowledgeable, and had great timing, not an easy combination. My friend and I split the oyster roll and the fish special. The roll is a small plate, and it is very much appetizer sized, not meal. The fish was perfectly cooked and seasoned. I will note that they are pricy, I thought the cocktail prices were high for outside of the city. But otherwise a wonderful experience. read more

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The restaurant had a very cool vibe and was bustling! You definitely need a reservation if you want to eat here. I felt like we could have had more attention from our waiter for refills and putting in drink orders but again the restaurant was busy. My husband and I tried out a few starters the best being the Cesar salad with polenta croutons. It was amazing. We also tried the clam chowder which ended up being very ham forward. I was hoping for a more balance soup where you could taste the clams. The last starter we tried were the crab cakes which were also ok, no crab lumps to be found. Our main dishes were very good. The horseradish cheddar onion burger was very tasty and the fish and chips was very crispy with an excellent tartar sauce. Overall we enjoyed the experience. read more

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This place has a really cool ambiance, with a mix of vintage and modern decor. It is cute and cozy. There is good parking in the back. We were a bit surprised at the small portion sizes for most of the food (especially at the higher price point). The lobster roll was the best food item that we had, it was cooked well with spices and the butter syringe was a nice touch. We wanted to try a touch of caviar so got the croquettes which were sprinkled with black caviar. I was glad to try caviar at a lesser price point. It was lemony and buttery. It comes with chips that have a little spice to them. We also really liked the desserts- there was a ginger bread pudding with ice cream and that was the best comfort food, a little crispy and doughy, sweet & salty. We also got this peanut butter/ banana dessert and it had a lot of good textures and paired well together. The crab cakes were good, maybe a little dry though. We also liked the pear salad. I would pass on the salmon and yams next time though. Service was good & fairly quick. read more

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What a gem. Right downtown Franklin and apparently been open for a year. Beautiful patio, gorgeous decor. Food was delicious from the yogurt parfait, to the chicken ceasar salad, latte and shrimp starter. Good balance of fresh flavors all around. Excellent service. I love when the waiter has an opinion on the menu and knows what to recommend. They also have a private room that seats 10 read more

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My daughter had dined here once before and recommended it for Mothers Day. We had a party of 7 and tried many different dishes. First the cocktails were all good and customized upon request. Started with the monkey bread which was a big hit packed with flavor. Next I ordered the dill Caesar salad which was well liked especially the homemade croutons. Something different and so good. I ordered a special that day - Iberico pork tenderloin which was very good. Another hit was their cheeseburger and fries, mussels and smoked sturgeon. For dessert the best was rhubarb brown butter tart/crème brûlée and the elephant ears. I ordered the Caribbean Chocolate Roulade which was not to anyone's liking. Surprisingly it was a little bitter. Service was excellent, all dishes brought out seamlessly. A nice touch was in between courses the table was cleared of dishes, cleaned of crumbs and fresh silverware appropriate for the next dish given. A relaxing, upscale but playful historical atmosphere, cared for service with creative, delicious menu items. Interesting the bill was brought out in an old book - linking the past with the present keeping with their historical setting. And as the season changes with warmer weather look forward to enjoying their patio. read more

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A large group (14) went for a friend's birthday celebration and chose Franklin as we like to support independent, local establishments. The ambiance and service was decent. While the food was good (nothing remarkable) but the cost of the meals were outrageous for what you received. I ordered the pasta w muscle seafood plate and what arrived was a teacup sized saucer - when I mentioned that I didn't order the small plate the waitress informed me that I received the "large" plate. Another person at our table asked to substitute a different vegetable with her dinner only to be told there would be a $5 upcharge. Our group spent well in excess of $1000 with cocktails, wine, oyster bar, etc and to be nickel & dimed was so insulting that my wife and i won't be back. Either the waitress lacked the common sense to waive the upcharge / address the portion size for a $30 entre or the Management hasn't given the waitstaff the authority to make any judgement calls on a group spending this much on a night out. Either way, we left hungry and disappointed. read more

From start to finish, everything about our meal was fantastic. The atmosphere was warm and inviting--perfect for a relaxed evening out. We shared a variety of dishes including the burger, fries, Caesar salad, mushroom pasta, cornbread, lobster roll, and oysters--and every single item was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. The ingredients tasted high quality, and the flavors were well balanced across the board. The lobster roll was buttery was my favorite! I'm already looking forward to coming back and trying even more of the menu. Highly recommend! read more

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Came here to celebrate a belated birthday dinner and my friend and I loved it! The area around it is super cute as you're driving in, as well as the building exterior. We had a wonderful server guiding us through the menu, and decided to start with à la carte oysters and mocktails that we both loved: we also split the dill Caesar salad and ended up ordering the cheese burger to split after the girl at the table next to us raved about it. We split a chocolatey dessert that was the perfect way to end the night! read more

The Franklin Oyster Bar and Eatery - Dessert - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Franklin, Michigan

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Beautifully restored, historic house in Franklin. Was hoping to order the scallops but they were out of season. We ordered oysters and Icelandic Haddock Fish and Chips and Clams Linguine. All delicious. The surprising star of the show was the House Crackers. Do not skip this. Service was great. read more

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Such an intimate venue with a great brunch menu and exceptional service. I can't wait to come back and experience their dinner menu as well. I met a friend here for a girl brunch and the experience did not disappoint. Staff were extremely friendly, had great suggestions about menu options and the cocktails were delicious. We both had two cocktails, oysters, two small apps and an entree. I want to go back to try their brunch burger (that is my go-to anytime I visit a restaurant so I tried to step outside of my normal order) but had the delicious shrimp and middlins - they were lighter, flavorful and I had leftovers to take home. Lovely experience from start to finish, I know they're a popular dinner spot so book ahead of time! read more

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This is an elegant restaurant that I feel will quickly become a neighborhood gem. Right in "downtown" Franklin, it is located in a renovated historical home, and has a large outdoor patio. Because it was chilly outside, I dined in their cozy indoor dining room. My server with very friendly, helpful and informative, taking the time to assist my mom with her menu selections. The menu is mostly seafood-focused with a daily selection of oysters and seafood. They have a thoughtfully curated wine list, but also offer cocktails and mocktails. We enjoyed the oysters, octopus small plate, smashed burger, and a side of coleslaw. The preparation of the octopus was the best I have ever had... perfectly tender and with flavorful accompaniments. I would also say the same for the dill coleslaw which was vinegar-based instead of made with mayonnaise. For dessert, we enjoyed their peanut butter, chocolate cake with banana sorbet. My mom typically doesn't like dairy-free desserts, but even she loved it! I would definitely return to Franklin Oyster Bar and Eatery. I highly recommend making a reservation well in advance as they book up quickly (this was my third try). In warmer weather, the patio looks like it would also be enjoyable. read more

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Loved our experience at The Franklin!! Such a great addition to the area and nothing disappointed! Highly recommend the crudo and oysters (of course) and the prosciutto plate and salad were the perfect addition. read more

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Environment was the best!!! Server was the best!!! Really great oysters and great drinks ! Yummmm !!!! Thank you!!! read more

The Franklin Oyster Bar and Eatery - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Franklin, Michigan

I really love this place. Such a great staple in the neighborhood fresh food, top of the line service, and a great ambiance. It's so cute and the patio is nice in the summer. The variety of oysters, lobster roll, and handcrafted cocktails keep you going back more. Love the butter shot in the lobster roll. read more

This restaurant is absolutely beautiful truly it feels like dining inside a historic home full of character and charm, almost like being in the South. The food is incredible, with everything made from scratch, even the crackers and desserts. Our waiter, Samuel, was fantastic super friendly and attentive. The lobster roll was outstanding, and the desserts were just as amazing! read more

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Service was excellent. Food was very good and it is a very relaxing vibe. We were there at 11 am for brunch so it may be a bit different when it gets busy but I will be there again! read more

We're so lucky to live near The Franklin Oyster Bar-their brunch is truly one of the best around! The setting alone makes it special. Dining inside the beautifully restored barn gives the whole experience so much character. It feels rustic but refined with décor that's thoughtfully done and inviting. The food is consistently excellent. Brunch here feels elevated but still comforting. All their dishes are fresh, flavorful, and well-prepared every time we go. It's one of those places that feels like a treat, even when it's just a nearby weekend stop. We're so glad to have this gem close to home! read more

We loved this place so much e went back the very next week! I know Thai sounds crazy but we are vegetarian and their options were phenomenal -- our favorite were the fried green tomatoes!!! I highly recommend this place and the servers were really kind and super accountable. read more

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Oof. Think this place is experiencing some growing pains. The good: Some of the food was very good. The salmon was excellent -- thick fillet, perfectly cooked medium, and flavorful. The seafood tower was also very good -- nice variety of oysters, solid shrimp, a little bit of lobster and a crudo. Pricey though at 65 for not much food. The bad: Some of the food just wasn't any good. The crab Louie was terrible. Almost no crab, lettuce tasted cheap, doused (I mean doused) in dressing. Also pricey for the portion, which was super small. The ugly: First, did I mention the prices? Way too high for the portions they serve. Second, while our waitress was awesome (shout out Hannah), the coordination and overall service was atrocious. We didn't get two dishes -- cornbread** and another appetizer -- despite asking quite a few times for them. When they finally did bring them out -- well after we had finished dinner -- we had already spoken to someone to get them cancelled. (To their credit, they didn't charge us.) Took like five asks to get a refill of a Diet Coke (did charge us for that, ha.) **they kindly gave us some cornbread to take home, and it was quite good. If they lower their prices (or enlarge their portion sizes commensurately) and get their act together on the service front, think this place has a good amount of potential. Not there yet though... read more

First visit here last night where I met a friend at 10:00. I had a res though didn't think I needed one that late. Most places have emptied out by then. Upon arriving I was surprised how busy it was inside and even busier in the beautiful outside area. I really like the interior but recommend eating outdoors if weather is good. We were just there for a light bite. I ordered a lobster roll and fries. The lobster roll is on the small plates menu and, as others have mentioned, it is a small roll for sure but for $26 that's not surprising since they are usually $35+ at upscale restaurants. It was a very good roll as were the fries. My friend had oysters he enjoyed and also some shrimp. The shrimp didn't look particularly large for the price. All in all I enjoyed the food and the ambience and service was spot on so I do recommend the restaurant....just recognize portions are not huge and prices reflect the prime location. read more

The Franklin Oyster Bar and Eatery - Lobster roll and fries. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Franklin, Michigan

DELICIOUS, But UPSTAIRS IS A DOWNER We had a fun night and the food was good. * The lobster roll was perfectly cooked and easily the best in the area. * The dill caesar salad with polenta croutons was fresh and flavorful. * The burger, salmon, and chicken entrees were also hits with our group. Our servers were friendly but slow and disorganized; Hopefully, this improves with time. Unfortunately, we were seated upstairs, which was cramped and extremely loud (frat party decibel level!), making conversation nearly impossible. Next time, we'll be sure to sit in the main dining room or the patio. JAY, PLEASE SOUNDPROOF. read more

We had reservations at 8:15, which is on the late side, especially as I was with my 88 year old mom. We got there a little early and they seated us. We picked out what we wanted and ordered. They brought us our wine. Then in a bit they brought us our oysters. The oysters got cleared away and we waited for the rest of our food. At 8:59 the waitress comes and tells me that they ran out of my dish. At that point I just ordered what I thought might be fastest. What a disappointment that they can't mange their orders and kitchen better. We won't be returning. read more

This is really closer to 4.5 stars. I would definitely return. We loved the previous restaurant and absolutely love the patio. The lobster roll was good but it's tough to spilt. The fried green tomatoes were an interesting take but just tasted like fried something. The biscuits were a miss. Tiny and not the right consistency. But the pimento spread was amazing. Entrees were good but the pasta was undercooked. All the desserts were absolutely fantastic. If this review is critical it's because the prices are really high. If it was 20% cheaper this would be a solid 5 star. We'll definitely go back but probably more for drinks and apps/dessert read more

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My husband and I dined at The Franklin on a Wednesday evening. Reservations are a must. We started with a dozen east coast oysters. Lovely presentation with mignonette, cocktail and Tabasco sauces plus extra horseradish- nice touch. Next- amberjack crudo. Served with scallions and avocado. Just enough but did not mask the taste of the fish. Next, hot honey octopus (forgot a pic). Served warm with a cool avocado mousse. Lastly we shared the scallops entree. Served with a corn puree and greens. Four large scallops. All dishes are shareable and what I liked most is they were small enough for two people to share a number of dishes. We probably could have ordered one more small plate, however I was perfectly satisfied. Our server was friendly, attentive but not hovering. The restaurant was bustling. They fit a lot of people in a small space. It gets loud, crowded and the bar area was packed you could barely get by. The weather was overcast, however on a nice day the patio is super cute and I'd like to sit outside. They also have The Pavilion that looked like it could be used for events like a shower. Nice drink menu with fancy cocktails, an extensive wine list and a few craft beers. Definitely check out The Franklin! read more

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We went for brunch and this place has excellent brunch and a great cozy vibe! The waiter had amazing customer service and great recommendations! I can't recommend this place enough! read more

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A pleasant atmosphere, and a nice patio for drinks or outside dining. We waited a bit too long for our server, but she was attentive from then on. Food quality is good, but small portions & quite expensive and everything is à la carte. The biggest downer was the tiniest lobster roll I've ever seen. I don't know why they ask when I made the reservation, if you're celebrating anything (wife's birthday) because they do absolutely NOTHING. Ohh sorry, after I ordered a $16 slice of cake they did serve it with a small candle It's too bad since I can walk to the restaurant. *4 friends went tonight 7/12, they ordered the Seafood Tower expensive but fresh & tasty. They celebrated a birthday and also received NOTHING ‍ read more

We lovedddd our dining experience at the Franklin! The fresh raw bar & oysters were some of the best I've had. The caesar salad and the warm, soft croutons deserve its own shoutout. The stuffed elephant ear was delicious, and the seared octopus was full of flavor. Ended with a smooth espresso martini! The whole place has a great vibe and beautiful design, they truly thought through the smallest of details. The bathrooms were all so cute and so different. Staff is very friendly and inviting. Can't wait to go back! Definitely our new date night spot read more

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Loved the house crackers, the seafood tower was fresh. Highly suggest the crudo!!! The dill salad was delicious probably the best salad I've had, the crotons were a delightful surprise. The mushroom ravioli was also great. I do feel the octopus fell short, and the scallops were just ok for me. read more

The Franklin Oyster Bar and Eatery - Scallops without bacon and mushroom Ragu - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Franklin, Michigan

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Was very excited for The Franklin to open up and it did not disappoint! So nice to have a new restaurant in this area. Our server was super friendly and helpful with the menu. It is really pretty inside and feels like you're in Charleston or somewhere out east. Great date night spot! My husband and I shared some oysters, a caesar salad, the sea scallops and the cucumbers. Everything was fresh and delicious! Cocktails were great too. I really liked the tequila drink called the Pearl and they made a great espresso martini. Also, don't skip dessert! I didn't get a photo but the key lime pie was amazing! read more

The Franklin Oyster Bar and Eatery - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Franklin, Michigan

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Where do I start? We were there for a birthday, clearly stated in our reservation, and they didn't lift a finger to do a damn thing special or accommodating. Then, on top of that, our main dishes took nearly a full hour to arrive from the time we sat down (probably 50 or so minutes after we ordered). The food that did arrive was tasty but also either lukewarm or cold like it had been sitting out for a long time. The waiter was continuously apologetic for the delay but also very, very distracted with other tables, offering he had made his general manager aware of the issues, and then nothing. Crickets. The meal concluded with a full price bill and the waiter hoping we would come back while they "iron out the issues with their system." Whatever the hell that means. To me, the dinner boiled down to, "look we know we effed up, but hey, we still have our training wheels on so give us a break, here's the bill and goodnight." There's screwing up and owning it to communicate a repeat trip might be worth it, and then there's the experience we had... The Franklin needs to do better. read more

Prices are high and portions are small. The martini glasses are mini size, but the prices are high $18-$20. Lobster roll is good, but it is 2 bites and mostly bread. read more

Over all a very nice experience, truly a lovely renovation. We were excited to try many dishes, so my husband and I decided to order and share from the small plates section of the menu. We started with fresh oysters and a Caesar salad. Both were exceptional and will bring us back. Next course was one of our usual favorites, mussels with sausage and bread. It was tasty, but seriously the smallest portion of mussels we have ever received... and we've ordered them a lot. The small 1/2 slice of toast that came with it was a flipping joke especially with the already slim portion. Nothing to enjoy the broth with! Also, my personal opinion: when serving a rich dish, the toast doesn't need to be buttered. We rounded out dinner sharing a lobster roll and bowl of clam chowder. The exceptional, but very small lobster roll made every bite quite dear. It was truly perfectly seasoned and incredibly delicious. After 25 years of going to cape cod annually, this Michigander has had her share of clam chowders. Their presentation was gorgeous, had fab textures, fresh colors that all made for a truly beautiful bowl. I will say the chowder was delicious, but although there were plenty of clams present, it was potato forward. Maybe a wise choice for midwestern tastes (?) Overall we enjoyed ourselves and will return, especially to sit at that cozy bar when the snow flies. read more

What a great place. We sat outside in arguably the nicest outside venue. A courtyard, with fireplace, couches for sitting and having a drink and nice dinner tables and chairs. The service was great. They had a large staff out there attending to customers needs. The food was great. The menu was not large but everything we had was excellent. I would rather have a small menu with excellent food, then a large menu with so so food. Had oysters that were really fresh and tasty. Then a really excellent Ceasar with polenta instead of croutons, the polenta was great. Then, mussels with great tasting sausage, excellent. Then the best, the scallops. I'm not a fan of scallops, now I am. They were terrific. Dessert was a real treat. Lemon meringue tart. Also, chocolate bourbon pecan ice cream. All in all the food was terrific. read more

Had a great first experience, our brunch was very good, great environment. Our waiter Alex was top notch!

Have been wanting to try Franklin Oyster Bar since it opened a month or so ago, and grabbed the first opportunity when it came up. All in all, a very positive experience, with a few caveats. First, the good. The dining area is a charming space, with (it seems) additional seating upstairs. There is also a covered outdoor area next door to the main restaurant, suitable for special events. This was not in use the evening we were there. Our server was a very capable gentleman, who gave us top-notch attention. Most important: the food. We shared a lobster roll, one of several small plates on offer. For our entrees, I got the linguine with clams. It consisted mostly of medium- wide noodles, a good quantity of clams in their shells, served in jus. It might have been improved by serving some French bread to soak up the liquid, but the flavor was quite nice. We mentioned this to the general manager, who was working the floor - he said he would bring this to the chef's attention: very good. The co-diner departed from the seafood theme and ordered chicken with pepper and a vegetable mixture. He found the dish to be well-prepared and flavorful. We ended our meal with French press coffee, which was very nice. Now, the caveats. First of all, if you want to try the establishment (which this Yelper encourages), be sure to book well in advance. We secured a table about a week ahead of time, but had to take an early dinner time. Parking was more than adequate, so no worries there. We did find the ambient noise of the other diners to be a bit excessive, particularly for older diners like us. If the place could install some noise dampening ceiling tiles, this might help. In sum, a fine addition to the suburban dining scene. read more