This is our third time here in the span of 6 months after finding out about The Graceful Ordinary! The service is always great and their menu changes each season so there's always something new to try. They also changed up their cocktail menu, and we were super excited to see they had some new summer drinks. This is definitely one of my new favorite restaurants in the area. It's perfect for special occasions and date nights. The first two times we came we sat at the bar, but we came right when they opened and were able to be seated at a table. I love the candlesticks they have lit at the tables. There's a a view of the kitchen as well. To drink, I had the Dip in the Backyard Kiddie Pool (very refreshing) and Fresa Fresca (basically a strawberry margarita and it was super refreshing and tasted like strawberry juice). For dessert, we shared the oreo carjillo. It was pretty strong to me, but it definitely tasted like Oreos and milk! To eat as an appetizer, they gave us complimentary bread and butter and we ordered the sundried tomato oil to go along with it (a must). Their bread is so soft and fresh. We also got the bone marrow (forgot to get a photo), and it was some of the best we've had!! For our entrees, we got the two pasta dishes. They called them "small plates" but it was the perfect amount of food for us with our appetizers. I had the spicy carrot rigatoni pasta and it was super fresh. I love that they cooked the pasta al dente. read more

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We celebrated our anniversary last night by going to dinner at this new-to-us restaurant in Saint Charles. We loved everything about The Graceful Ordinary from the ambience to the amazing service (thanks Karen!) to the creative cocktails to the delicious food. When we arrived at the table, there was an anniversary card from the staff. Nice touch! We were brought a loaf of the warm housemade bread with whipped butter to begin. Hubby ordered the Having a Moment bourbon cocktail, and I had the Honey Kiss vodka and elderflower cocktail. Love their creative cocktail list. Karen was a fabulous server, so attentive and friendly. The other staff was on top of everything from water being refilled to clearing dirty dishes and even fresh butter brought to the table when it was low. Our needs were met before we even needed to ask. Also, since Karen knew that we were splitting all the courses, she automatically had the food split between two plates. I liked that. We decided to split everything we ordered. We started with the smoked salmon deviled eggs which were creamy delicious, not to mention beautifully presented. Our second starter was the bone marrow with caramelized shallots. This dish was absolutely amazing. My only critique would be to put four pieces of bread on the plate went two people are sharing. Our next course was a salad and we went with the roasted beet salad with blue cheese and sunflower shoots dressed in a warm bacon vinaigrette. Bacon - need I say more? Our main course was the walleye with ricotta gnudi, fava beans, peas and wild mushrooms. So many flavors and textures going on. The fish was perfectly seared and moist. Delectable. We thought about dessert but we were so full from dinner that we passed. Karen wouldn't let us go without a complimentary dessert in honor of our anniversary to enjoy at home, their signature butterscotch pot de crème with sea salt caramel. The Graceful Ordinary certainly made our anniversary special with the anniversary card at the table, and the complementary dessert. If you're in the western Chicago burbs, I highly recommend checking this restaurant out. read more

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My son took me here for my birthday this past April and what a dining experience it was! First off, the ambience was extremely elegant and upscale. The preparation of our entrees was beautiful and the service was excellent. I highly recommend, especially for a special occasion. read more

Firstly, anyone saying the food doesn't taste good or they leave hungry is smokin crack ..... also, sounds like you probably would of enjoyed a buffet instead. This place is incredible... the food is to die for. It's the first place I've been to and did not feel like bloated or so full to where I was sick because the portions were perfect. Nothing here fell short, in fact it's the first place in the burbs where the food wasn't overly salted or fried in some type of oil. Everything tasted fresh. The flavors were busting up in my mouth every bite I took, even down to snowball fight drink we had. I highly, highly recommend the bread cheese appetizer- this was something super unique to me as I've only had grilled up cheese one other time in Brazil, Queijo Coalho.... There was a beautiful twist on this cheese- crunchy, creamy, sweet, savory and the honey and tabbouleh were such a great finish to this dish. Pair this with the fresh bread and it was chefs kiss! We had the beer braised short rib and seabass- two completely different flavored entres that we absolutely perfect. The short rib you literally can't go wrong with- melted in my mouth with every bite - and hats off the the chef who cooked the onions so perfect to actually be able to taste them instead of just carmelizing or salting them! I would call this your typical Midwest comfort dish. The seabass was much different the salad was tangy with the lentils being rich- add a nice cooked crispy top seabass and you got yourself a unique dish of flavors that will have you thinking what's in it after hours! But the star of the show was dessert of course - OMFG - s'mores ice cream sunday ....... I died and went to heaven literally. I have never tasted ice cream that mimicked everything I've ever wanted my ice cream to taste like. It was the perfect temperature (trust me a lot of restaurants it's either rock hard or melted) this was epic. Creamy, almost pudding like and being able to taste every note was wild to me. The graham cracker - yes the freaking graham cracker was the best one I've ever tasted in my life. Clearly I've never had a graham cracker without preservatives before. The chocolate syrup .... Jeeze let me tell if I could swim in it I would.... The service was friendly, prompt and right on time. The server knew all the cues and timing of all the food to come out. She checked in everytime we got something to make sure everything was just right... you can tell she takes her job seriously but also knows how to interact with people - something a lot of servers lack these days so we really appreciated the service. As for the atmosphere- this place blows a lot of the chi city restaurants out of the water. The organic feel but fancy! Oh, and I can actually talk and hear myself think without blasting music over my head. We will be back ... but honestly please change nothing here- everything you're doing here is fantastic! read more

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I had heard great things and it didn't disappoint! I had the ribeye cooked perfectly and the Brussel sprouts side! It was my birthday and waiting at our table was a card signed by staff. A nice touch. It isn't for the faint of heart regarding prices but worth it. It was a bit noisy but the space is beautiful so it offset the inconvenience of the noise. But if you have someone in your party who struggles with hearing, you may want to ask for a corner table...they also have a nice balcony with seating when the weather permits read more

The Graceful Ordinary - Ribeye with potatoes and peas - New American Near Me - St. Charles, Illinois

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The food,the service,the atmosphere, everything was perfect. I highly recommend this for special occasions. It will not disappoint. read more

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Ambiance is incredibly intimate and cozy. Very comfortable waiting lounge available while your table clears, which will be a while. Food was delicious. Cocktails were delicious. Service is VERY slow. Whether by design or intent, I cannot determine but if you're hungry, don't come here or you will be excruciatingly hangry. Understand that this is not a high table turnover environment. The dinner rush is not exactly witnessed here. Ive never seen a grill line have such a lack of sense of urgency but it quickly made sense as I recognized it had been 35 minutes since an order was put in. Aside from that also understood the food was absolutely amazing, is it worth the wait? Yes if you understand the length of time it may take to get it. Come here not needing to eat immediately and enjoy the ambiance, the drinks, be in the moment, and let the food be an afterthought. I will most certainly be back. read more

Where to start? How about with the grace of finding a place like this? Absolutely impeccable experience on every level. The service is outstanding. The atmosphere vibe & actual construction of the place is so cool. And the food Yep, it's amazing. Everything we had was really good. As for negatives, the room is a bit loud and it's a bit pricey, but that's just how things are now. And the bottom line with the latter is that it's worth it. Once seated, the noise level was a bit too much for me and in the category of asking for what you want in life, I I asked if we could be seated in a quieter area and they quickly accommodated by setting us up at table in the corner which was so quiet, had a great view of the room, and lovely upholstered booth, it was amazing. We love a good cocktail and these were great. Very creative delicious a touch sweet but not too much and a nice touch was the extensive rim salting, but all on one side of the glass so you could have plenty or none. They bring homemade bread to the table which was really great warm almost like a pretzel bread. All the food we had was exceptional oysters, a beet salad to die for with a wonderful bacon infused dressing, and a lobster pasta in interesting cream sauce that was a tad salty but sublimely delicious. Had an intense lemon ice cream for desert with other elements. Sweet way to end the meal on a good note. The service was really great attentive, but not to intrusive. Everybody we had interaction with was super friendly. You can tell they love working there and that is one way to tell ownership of a business and how they treat their employees. The vibe was chill friendly and inviting. The restaurant was built in an old 60s or 70s vacant bank building that I always admired right on the river some of the structure of the building goes down into the water and those areas they made into outdoor patios overlooking the river, really cool. This place is great. Can't wait to go back. Don't hesitate to come here. Can't wait to try many of the other items on the creative menu. read more

The Graceful Ordinary - New American Near Me - St. Charles, Illinois

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If you like super overpriced places that serve you 5 bites of food this is the place for you. The atmosphere is very cute for sure. But the food is extremely overpriced for average food. They try to plate it like you're getting something great but I left still hungry. The bolognese was about 10 bites of food for $25 and wasn't even good. Old fashioned was $19. Would not come back here. read more

What a beautiful restaurant lit by real candles (as opposed to battery operated mini lights.) We had a great meal with amazing service. We will definitely be back! read more

The Graceful Ordinary - New American Near Me - St. Charles, Illinois

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Wow-I cannot even express what a beautiful experience your team and restaurant provided. The entire space is a work of art, and being transported back to such a charming atmosphere is something I will never forget. The food was incredible, featuring alluring tasting notes and decadent flavors. The drinks were equally impressive--it was truly the best espresso martini I have ever had. Additionally, the sommelier provided excellent assistance in finding the perfect wine for my friend. The service was impeccable. Thank you to our wonderful server- she went out of her way to make my friends birthday a special celebration. Everyone was gracious and went above and beyond with their kindness and hospitality. Thank you for a night to remember. I loved it! read more

Absolute gem! Booked for an Anniversary dinner for my parents after reviewing a few spots in the area. We ordered a variety of starters, small plates and entrees. Hard to believe but they nailed everything! Hats off to the chef and staff who were super attentive and pleasurable. Loved the place also and terrific name. I travel extensively and have lived in Chicago area, Orange County and Phoenix. This was easily the best overall meal (apps to desert) Ive had in years. Quality is outstanding. Incredible find and will definitely be back. A well earned 5 stars! read more

The Graceful Ordinary is a contemporary American restaurant in Saint Charles IL. It's a classy restaurant in a welcoming town. That's a great combination. The Graceful Ordinary comes from Chef Chris Curran and his wife Megan Curran. Chris built his career in Chicago's restaurant scene and Megan built hers in nightlife hospitality. That makes a lot of sense. The Graceful Ordinary is impressive even compared to Chicago standards. Atmosphere at Graceful Ordinary is classy. There's dark wood, elegant wall paper, chandeliers, and candles on the tables. It's a moody lively vibe. You can also sit outside and overlook the river. Both are nice. Personally, I think inside is better. While the space is classy, it's not pretentious. That's largely because of the Saint Charles community. Staff is friendly. They're always checking on you. While most guests are dressed up a bit, there are still a few hoodies and hats in the room. The food was great. Since it's American, the menu is safe. So anyone can find something they'll love but you may not find much you haven't had before. Price for the portions are generous - certainly compared to Chicago standards. That said, it's probably some of the best contemporary American you can have. We ordered 4 dishes. 3 were excellent. 1 was good. Nothing was bad. EXCELLENT (Must haves) Breaded Pork Chop - Very very good. It's paired with fennel, onions, and a dark sauce together it brings it to another level. Creole Catfish - Beautiful backend fish in a lemon capper sauce over a semi sticky rice. The rice absorbs the fish and capper sauce. It's a grey thing. Brussels Sprouts GOOD (Tasty but there's better) Bone Marrow - We liked the bone marrow BUT the caramelized shallots that come on it dominante the flavor profile a bit. Don't get me wrong. It's good. But it's different than what you typically expect from Bone Marrow. read more

Delicious unique food with the most beautiful decor in a restraint I've ever seen. You feel like you're at an upscale Chicago restaurant!

The bartenders Lauren and Kate were phenomenal! We went in 45 mins before close for a quick drink to celebrate a special occasion and they were so welcoming! Made great recommendations too. Will definitely be back for dinner asap! read more

Update: This place really frustrates me. While their brunch is by far my favorite in the area, and the mussels are the dinner standout here - outside of the collaboration a few years back - i can't get a steak here cooked to my requested temperature for the life of me. Medium rare almost always comes out more medium well, and ordering rare to try and get it closer to medium rare is more like raw. The service however, also almost always on point. So will continue to go for the brunch and the mussels, but never again for the steak. Not after that many times, for that price that's a gamble on being cooked as requested. read more

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New favorite happy hour spot! The martinis are ice-cold and the oysters were some of the freshest I've had. Often, happy hour feels like a step down in quality, but everything here--from the starters to the main course--was top-tier. Great atmosphere, even better service. Can't wait to come back!" read more

Food and service were very good. A bit pricey but ok for a special occasion. It has an open kitchen design with a dark, cozy, elegant interior. Presented my friend who was having a birthday a card signed by the staff and a complimentary ice cream dessert with a candle. read more

5 stars for a reason! Food, service and ambiance A+. Our dinner consisted of a split gem salad ; 2 small plates: tuna, and gnocchi bolognese. I could easily have been finished at this point, but the main course (which we split) was a show stopper! Miso glazed monkfish with sunchokes and leeks. And a side of au gratin potatoes with pepper jack cheese. I'm not lying when I say the fish melted in my mouth. We were so full that we could not eat anything else. The craft cocktails looked amazing. I chose the first on the list ; I think it was called The Furious Fig A reposado tequila with fig puree , lemon and hot honey. I would go back for dinner again. Only one thing I didn't like: There is not enough parking in St Charles ! read more

Sooo adorable! The decor and ambiance is off the charts! We sat in the enclosed patio overlooking the river. Everything was amazing!

We had an incredible experience at The Graceful Ordinary for our friends birthday- I can't wait to go back. The vibes inside the restaurant are impeccable, and they have lots of outdoor space for when the weather is nice as well. Service was top notch from the hostess to our server to the sommelier- everything was perfection. The food and cocktails were also incredible. I had the Le Granda cocktail which was tart and refreshing. We started with the octopus carpaccio and the bone marrow- plus fresh baked bread. I ordered the mussels small plate (which was not small) and it was fantastic- covered in crispy frites. I want to go back and have it again soon. Others at the table had scallops, steak, and duck- and all seemed very pleased with their entrees. For dessert, they had a cocktail on the menu called the song of the South- a sweet potato based beverage- it was fantastic and a great way to end the meal. I'll be back soon for another special occasion! read more

The Graceful Ordinary - PEI Mussels small plate- delicious! - New American Near Me - St. Charles, Illinois

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Only came in for a nightcap and sat at the bar, so I can't comment on the food but the ambiance, selection, and level of professionalism from the barkeepers was exceptional! and exactly what we were looking for. The bartenders understood the assignment: engage with your (out of town) clientele with light but informative conversation. Be interested and interesting. A few samples were offered too which is on-point. Just really appreciate the extra efforts at old-school "Cheers"-level service. Well done. When back in town, we plan to try their seasonally-changing menu on the patio which hangs over the Fox River. read more

This was a locally recommended spot, so I made reservations and met the rest of by team there. We started with octopus carpaccio and a bottle of great wine for the table. The space was extremely charming sitting right on the river. The decor was very modern and fresh and was the perfect spot for date night! I can't wait for my next time here so I can try all the other dishes I wanted to try. read more

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From the time you walk in greeted by the wonderful hosts until you leave it was amazing. Food is outstanding. Service by Tiffany is above and beyond. Decor is absolutely beautiful. Highly recommend!! read more

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The venue has no strict dress code, but since it's classy, consider dressing up a bit for the occasion. When my party of two arrived without a reservation, we were informed of a 15-20 min wait. However, we ended up being seated within just 10 mins. The restaurant was not very crowded on a Thursday night. We understand that the restaurant employs staggered seating to avoid overwhelming the kitchen. We decided to sit indoors, facing the open kitchen, which provided a captivating view of the culinary action. I managed to capture some stunning photos showcasing the venue's exquisite decor and the refined ambiance in the indoor and outdoor dining areas. Every dish we tried was delicious and had a unique flavor profile. We look forward to returning to sample more items from their enticing menu. Our waitress was both amiable and accommodating. While some might prefer frequent check-ins from the staff, I appreciated that we were not interrupted too frequently during our meal. We got a friendly hello from the executive chef/owner and a takeaway red chimichurri from the host - such a nice surprise! In general, this dining experience has truly raised the bar. read more

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What a fabulous spot overlooking the fox river in St. Charles to enjoy a fabulous meal and devine cocktails. The space is gorgeous - every detail carefully planned including screens for the patio to eliminate pests. Service was unobtrusive but always readily available. My favorite cocktail, the sazerac, was actually on the menu, and it was delicious. Not too many bars stock absinthe so i was surprisingly pleased with their l fantastic variety of libations. The food was phenomenal from the complimentary bread service to the appetizers (frisee salad was amazing!). My husband and I decided to split the Halibut, and they plated that for us. It was plenty of food and probably one of the best Halibut dishes I ever had. The mint julep sundae was the perfect ending with just the right combination of flavors to be decadent but not overly rich. Nearly 2 1/2 hours were spent enjoying the dinner, not because service was slow but rather we didn't want the experience to end. read more

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Had dinner recently. The pierogi and duck small plate was great, as well as the short rib. The sticky toffee dessert was one of the best dessert I have had in years. Amazing! read more

What a great place to dine. It's right off the river and has a beautiful patio to observe the sunset and enjoy the mild weather. We sat inside and while it was a little loud, the place was very nice and the service was incredible. Many craft drinks and unique dishes to choose from, I ordered the scallops and with fried oysters and fingerlings. The flavor was outstanding and went well with the cheese bread. We ended with desert, a tasty mint chocolate cookie sundae that is worth having again. Great place for a special occasion! read more

The Graceful Ordinary - Beautiful ambiance off the river - New American Near Me - St. Charles, Illinois

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St Charles was recommended by a local as an area to explore for fine dining in the West Chicago area. I would say The Ordinary definitely represents well in that regard. Ambiance is stunning. Upscale finishes without being too pretentious. The exhibition style kitchen allows for seating with a front row to all the action from tickets arriving to completed dishes waiting on the pass. And the views overlooking the river are excellent. Outdoor dinners will enjoy. The menu is comprised of snacks, small plates, entrees and sides. Snacks are very small and probably not for sharing. Started with octopus carpaccio. This was an excellent composition of flavors and textures. I'm not sure I've had octopus this tender ever. Served with lemon puree, peanut, chili oil, and pickled mustard seeds. Every bite a flavor explosion. Entree was truffle stuffed chicken. Half chicken, bone in, with a spaetzle and collard greens and truffle jus. The chicken itself was expertly cooked with crisp skin outside and tender meat inside. However, I struggled to find any trace of truffle flavor. There was a faint hint of it in the stuffing but barely there. The truffle jus provided zero truffle essence. And it was unfortunate that the spaetzle and the jus were almost cold when served to me even though the chicken was piping hot. I would suggest they should start using warmed plates for service. The cocktails were on point and they have an extensive menu of original creations that will entice any palate. Despite my critique on the chicken, I wouldn't hesitate to return. read more

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Octopus carpaccio Oysters Steak tartare Brussels sprouts Pork chop Roast chicken Pot de creme Sparkling vanilla pear cocktail If I had six stars to give, I would give six stars here. The restaurant is beautiful and the vibe is surprisingly very laid back for a fine dining establishment. I imagine this is a really beautiful place to go on a summer day with all the porches right on the river. The food and drinks here were uniformly excellent. I would particularly recommend the octopus, brussels sprouts and roast chicken. A really nice place to come for a quiet celebration or a romantic dinner. read more

We visited for my birthday this past weekend and had dinner on the deck. This is a classy establishment with attentive & friendly staff, lovely views, and fantastic food. When we arrived there was even a birthday card on the table signed by staff members. If you haven't dined here yet, this is your sign! I had the salmon, and even though I'm not always a fan, it was wonderful. We will definitely be back! read more

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Husband and I had dinner here for our anniversary. We wanted to stay local instead of going to Chicago. He liked the interior decor a lot, he thought it would be more like a homey vintage vibe. All the staff there were super nice as well. The house made bread was great! I loved that it's chewy and crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. Paired really well with the butter and just good to munch on. I loved that they grilled the romaine for their Caesar salad. Grilling it seems so underrated and needs to be done more often. The olive tapenade is something new for me, I'm also not a fan of olives anyways. It didn't bother me too much in the overall taste of the dish. I liked that they big pieces of anchovies as well. Overall though, it doesn't feel like a Caesar. I think it's cause the dressing is a vinaigrette and not the thicker/traditional dressing. The hand rolled orecchiette was okay. I didn't like that it was drowning in the sauce. Reading the description, I thought it was just coated in dressing with the broccolini on the side and crumbles of sausages and cheese on top. I did like the hand rolled orecchiette though. The ribeye was okay as well. Nothing crazy stood out about the steak really. Tender, nicely cooked. The red chimichurri did give it a nice flavor boost. The whipped potatoes looked like it wouldn't be as fluffy, but it was actually pretty nice. The turnips were great too. They also gave us a dessert on the house, which was super sweet of them! But I think our waitress forgot to tell us what it was and we were really confused. Trying to figure out what it was LOL but it's the butterscotch pot de creme. It was pretty good actually! read more

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Came here tonight with friends to catch up since we haven't all seen each other in a while. The food and atmosphere were great, but unfortunately the service from our server Ashley really changed the experience for us. We intentionally came later in the evening because we mostly just wanted drinks, appetizers, and a place to sit and talk, not a full dinner service during a busy rush. Some of us ordered entrees, some ordered apps, and we were all respectful and paying customers. Throughout the night, Ashley seemed visibly annoyed that we weren't ordering expensive drinks or large meals. When it came time for the bill, she brought one check without asking if we wanted separate checks, even though we were clearly a group all ordering different items. We ended up splitting it evenly just to avoid making things more uncomfortable. The biggest issue was toward the end of the night. The restaurant didn't close until midnight, and around 11:30 we started feeling heavily rushed out. Our table was completely cleared while we were still sitting there talking, and both Ashley and another server repeatedly stared at us from across the restaurant in a way that honestly felt rude and uncomfortable. It genuinely felt like they were talking negatively about us and waiting for us to leave. We understand servers want to finish up and go home, especially since some of us work in restaurants too, but there's a difference between closing duties and making guests feel unwelcome while the restaurant is still open. We left feeling uncomfortable instead of relaxed after what was supposed to be a nice catch-up night. read more

5 stars for our server, James. Two stars because we walked in our reservation was at 5:30. We didn't get seated until 550, the speakeasy overcharged me on drinks which I didn't realize at first (I'm used to crazy prices, I live in the city) it was quickly fixed because our server James made sure that we were in the best hands. A few critiques on the restaurant itself I would've preferred sexier music rather than sad, slow, twangy Music. I think that that would really uplift the vibe, but that's just a personal opinion. Also I guess my parents told me that this wasn't the first time they were late for a reso.. I think it's disrespectful considering there was multiple tables open. Just makes me think they want us to spend more on cocktails.. which I don't appreciate because if the vibe is right, I'll spend. Food was delicious. James recommend the best plates. 10/10. read more

Lovvvve!!! If you're looking for a retro eclectic candlelight vibe...this is it! Their food menu is the only reason it doesn't get 5 stars. It's a little too wild for me. But everything else is fantastic! Drinks are outstanding and the overall ambiance is dark and has a 1960's-1970's speakeasy style. Which is exactly what I like! I would definitely recommend it. read more

Unique dishes with excellent cocktails. The service alone will bring me back. I felt underdressed because it was a very chic hip place. read more

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Worst restaurant I've ever been to. Serves terrible. Food below average. Priced to high for what u get

The place is super cute and currently decorated for the holidays. There is an open kitchen with two wood burning ovens. Smells amazing. The service was very good. We started with the goat cheese app. Perfect size for the two of us. For dinner I had the duck, my hubby had the sea bass and we had a side of fingerling potatoes. My fav were the fried shoestring leeks on my dish. Will be going again. read more

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Came here to celebrate my birthday and what a truly magical and delicious experience. The atmosphere is so warm and inviting with stunning decor and real candlelight throughout the restaurant. The service was attentive and was always available for questions, water refills, and clearing plates. The service was incredible. The food, WOW! We started with the goat cheese appetizer which was paired with a lovely jam, a great starter to the meal, not too filling and the flavors were so light and fresh! I selected the truffle chicken and my husband for the halibut. I am confident in saying this was the most flavorful and well cooked chicken I have ever had. The flavors were paired so well with the sides. The halibut was also a hit, prepared beautifully with flavors that were fresh and comforting. I would recommend making a reservation as it is a smaller space and gets fairly crowded on a weekend. read more

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Prices are city prices not suburb prices. Food is average to good. Ambiance is great! Location is superb! Service is great!