Had the best lunch at Olive! The beef shawarma was flavorful and perfectly cooked, but what really made the meal was the service. Evan was absolutely great--super attentive, friendly, and made sure we had everything we needed. We'll definitely be back to see him! read more

I was absolutely stunned beyond words by everything at Olive Restobar. I didn't expect to find such a gem in Downey, CA. For starters, they have a beautiful space. Their bar seating and decor would leave ancient kings jealous and there is so much seating both outdoor and in. There's an incredible selection of unique cocktails crafted by their team. I tried the mezcal Peligrosa which was strong, smoky, and spicy - just what the doctor ordered. My friend tried the Raspberry Anejo 23 which was delicious, sweet, and dangerously didn't taste like any alcohol. They bring out complimentary hot pita bread with this house made lemon cilantro dip that's absolutely phenomenal and had us trying to figure out if we can buy it here or make it at home. Their appetizer menu is extensive, so your best bet is to try both the hot and cold appetizer samplers. The hot mezza sampler comes with mediterranean cheese rolls, grape leaves, falafel, and kibbi. The cold mezza has all the classics to dip said hot mezza items into - hummus (regular AND spicy variation), tzaziki, and labneh. The labneh was freaking fire, it's hard to find good labneh anywhere outside of the literal mediterranean. Will be coming back for that for sure. For main courses, you can't go wrong with a classic kabob - it's what they're known for. The Olive Kabob Platter is great if you're feeling overdecided (because there are SOOO many good options) so we finally settled on the grilled kafta kabob and the grilled shrimp kabob. The shrimp was JUMBO and so incredibly plump, juicy, and stole the show from what was an amazing kafta. The real star of this meal though was the lamb chop. Have you ever had the perfect lamb chop before? If not, this is the place to get it. You absolutely need to order the lamb chop; if you could only choose one thing, this would be it. It maintains a juiciness but does not lack a crusted exterior that puts dry aged steak to shame. If you're not already stuffed from the amazing meal and need to tap into your dessert stomach, they have tons of options for any dessert palate. They've got options from pistachio cheesecake (YUM) to classic baklava or even a chocolate cake. Picky eaters and adventurous eaters converge here. This place just has fantastic vibes, great food, wonderful staff, and a beautiful space. I'd recommend this for graduations, birthdays, anniversaries, or screw it -- happy hours. I will definitely be dragging my friends out to Downey again soon to come back here. read more

Strongly recommend having a reservation before arriving. I had reservations for me and a friend on a Saturday night, and the place was pretty full so I'm sure we would've waited a while for a table. We were seated outdoors, which was perfect for us because there were heaters around. I had high hopes for the food but it did not deliver. We ordered a few basic plates: falafel, hummus and salmon ceviche to start. I ordered the original hummus but took the waiter's rec to try half original and half spicy. Neither was great. The falafel was a bit bland even w the sauce. I did not care for salmon ceviche, although my friend did enjoy it. For my main dinner, I had the Mediterranean salad w shrimp. It was refreshing but was missing some flavor. My friend ordered the mixed kabobs and thought the salmon and chicken were good. My favorite part of the meal was my spicy tequila drink (El Chapo & Kate). I had 2 and didn't even feel a buzz. I read another review that said it was pretty weak and I agree. But I did enjoy its taste. Apart from the food not being the best, i thought it was a good local place to grab a light and casual bite. It's very aesthetic and the service from our waiter was great. I don't think I'd go back though. read more

Really loved Olive Resto Bar. It goes beyond typical Mediterranean food and offers a great variety. The Medi Chicken Gourmet Sandwich was delicious, the cheese rolls were amazing, and the falafel was fresh and flavorful. The guava mango ice cream was such a fun dessert, and the mocktail was refreshing. The ambience is great, especially at night, and it gets pretty lively. Its a high end fine dine restaurant. Definitely recommend reservations on weekends. Big shoutout to Jasmine and Carlos for being the best hosts. read more

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the vibe in here is big gathering. it's super fun and everyone is hanging out and talking, def a great place to come for really high energy vibes. the food is actually really good, but when left out for a while it gets cold and obviously not AS good, still good nonetheless. the steak kabob is FIRE, the chicken is not as good as the steak but still good. the yellow rice is so yummy! the fries are addicting. the chicken piccata was so good, honestly this was probably the best dish. the sauce kept it warm and the taste was really nice and savory. the service is a little slow since i went when there was so many people buy they were nice and respectful. you just might not get your drinks right away or water refilled soon. i would come back fs read more

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We had such a great dining experience to the point we were planning to return for our next girls night. Our bill came out to $119.80, we tipped $20 on card. I expected after the weekend to see the charge of $139.80, however Monday morning I open my bank app and have a charge for $144.80. An additional and UNAUTHORIZED $5. Note, this additional $5 was not apart of the card/cash difference, we paid the exact amount that was listed for paying with a card on the receipt. Before being seated we had purchased a pastry from someone handing them out, but we paid cash. And the item was not listed on the bill at the end of our dinner. We've called to have this looked into and no one has called us back. I'm not going to lose sleep over $5. If your business is struggling- up your prices, don't place unauthorized charges on people's cards. Unfortunately because of this I can't justify recommending this place or returning. read more

Was helped out by my boy Kenneth, he helped us out and gave us 5 star service. Ask for him if you come here. Best waiter in Downey.

‼Extremely Disappointing Dinner‼ PLEASE READ BEFORE GOING ‼ We dined at Olive Restrobar on 1/9/26 for what was meant to be a special anniversary dinner, and it was a complete disappointment from beginning to end. As new residents of the City of Downey, we were genuinely hoping this would become a local spot we could enjoy and recommend. Unfortunately, that will not be the case. Upon arrival, we weren't greeted and were essentially ignored until we informed the staff that we had an 8:45 PM reservation. The service never improved from there. Even basic water service was an issue. I had to ask twice for my water to be replaced due to visible floaties in the glass. On the third attempt, the waiter brought a bottle of Evian, yet the glass still had debris in it. At that point, we stopped asking for water altogether. The food was unacceptable. The surf and turf steak was mostly fat, cooked unevenly, and completely inedible. My wife's ribeye was over-seasoned and not cooked correctly. She couldn't even finish half of her steak and chose to take the rest to go to feed our dog--after washing off the excessive seasoning. That should say everything. We were seated outside and asked three different employees to turn on the heat lamps. Despite multiple requests, they were never turned on, leaving us cold throughout the entire meal. We spent $197 before tip on what was supposed to be a memorable anniversary dinner and left frustrated and disappointed. For perspective, a Chili's 3 for Me offers a better-tasting ribeye and far better value. This restaurant failed on service, cleanliness, comfort, and food quality. We will not be returning and would strongly caution anyone considering this place--especially for a special occasion. read more

The Olive Restobar - This is how my steak looked - Mediterranean Near Me - Downey, California

It's unfortunate that most of the experience here was mid. Not great and not horrible. Drinks - ordered the flavored iced teas... they were warm and watered down. Gross. Cold sampler plate for the most part, you can't go wrong with it. These are standard dips at most Mediterranean places. Hot sampler plate was 3.5/5. The cheese rolls were delicious. I would order that by itself for sure! The kibbeh was 4/5. Falafels were 2/5 they were very bland. And I can't give judgement to grape leaves because in general I don't like them from anywhere. Aircraft chicken looks great in pictures but low in flavor. 3/5 Lamb chops 3.5/5 these needed a little bit more time to crust over and then it could've bumped up the score. I make a better lamb chop myself with just salt and pepper! Crème brûlée 4/5. I love crème brûlée in general. Pistachio cheesecake has 3 layers. Sponge cake, pistachio cream, whipped cream layer. If you taste each individual layer separately, it's very very good. But when you eat all 3 layers together, it makes it taste sour. It's off putting. So for that reason, it's 3/5. This restaurant is attached to the cafe next door, owned by the same people. But I did not like sitting over there. It feels dirty, sticky, cold and awkwardly airy. It's so far from everything that our server took forever on everything. Water, drinks, order taking, food bringing, giving us the check etc.. I am a Mediterranean food snob. I used to work at a Lebanese restaurant that was very very delicious and then I found another place that tops my old job. This place does not compete with either of those places. I would not come back here. I'm not even sure if the food is made by Arabs. Something was missing in each dish. The least they can do is leave salt and pepper on the tables. read more

Today was such a special day for my husband and I we celebrated 5 years of marriage, and of course we had to come back to The Olive for our anniversary dinner. This place means so much to us because it's where we had our very first date Every single time we come back, the food somehow tastes even better. It's already amazing, but it just keeps getting better and better each year, which is honestly so impressive. Kenneth helped us out today and he was incredible. Super fast, very respectful, and just genuinely kind. The way he treated us made our night feel even more special overall, this was such a perfect anniversary dinner with my husband. I 100% recommend this place the food is truly amazing and the experience is unforgettable. Can't wait to come back again! read more

Such a great spot to eat! As soon as I walked in I was greeted with the hostess who was very friendly & seated me quickly which I loved ! Our waiter Javier was so sweet & compliment us the whole time & was attentive to whatever we needed THE FOOD was DELICIOUS!!! Hands down the best Mediterranean food I've ever had I will definitely come back From start to finish I was satisfied with everything that was put on the table ! I will be recommending this restaurant to everyone ! The vibe all around is amazing the aesthetic of the restaurant is very pretty as well I like the outdoor seating arrangement Everything was just on point for me read more

The Olive Restaurant had a relaxing atmosphere and friendly staff. I ordered the Alfredo pasta--it was creamy, flavorful, and satisfying without being too heavy. Overall, a solid dining experience not sure if I would try again though. read more

The Olive Restobar - Front outside - Mediterranean Near Me - Downey, California

First time here, I read the reviews and I thought it was awesome but I wouldn't go back and I don't recommend it, we ask for the mixed feast, the meat was supposed to be medium but it was dry, rice was ok, the chicken and lamb not my favorite, honestly wasn't worth the price, I don't mind to pay a lot if the food is good but I regret it, service wasn't good either, it wasn't busy so we waited for refills which was only one time like 20 min, I guess next time I'll go back to Gaucho Grill because that place is way better. read more

The Olive Restobar - The only good thing was the rice... - Mediterranean Near Me - Downey, California

This is a must try restaurant. Every time I come here the food is amazing. Tonight I had the lamb chops and they were amazing. Javier was my server and he was so attentive and gave the best suggestions. Best waiter I've ever had. I will definitely be back! read more

My boyfriend and I visited Olive Resto Bar recently, and we've been talking about it nonstop ever since. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere felt warm, inviting, and effortlessly elevated. It's one of those places where you instantly feel taken care of cozy lighting, great music. The service was absolutely wonderful. Everyone we interacted with was kind, attentive, and genuinely made the experience feel special without ever being intrusive. You can tell they really care about creating a memorable night for their guests. Now...the food. WOW. I ordered the steak, and it was perfectly cooked tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor. Pair that with their fries, which tasted just like the iconic In-N-Out fries (but elevated!), and I was in heaven. Simple, classic, and done flawlessly. But the real star of the night? THE BREAD PUDDING. I'm not exaggerating when I say this is the best dessert I have ever tasted in my entire life. The warm, soft texture...the dreamy sauce...the perfect balance of sweetness. My boyfriend and I have literally been thinking about it, talking about it, and dreaming about it since we left. We were honestly ready to order 10 to-go because one serving will never be enough. It's that good. Olive Resto Bar exceeded every expectation from service to vibes to absolutely unforgettable food. We can't wait to come back (and, yes, we fully plan to get multiple bread puddings next time). Highly, highly recommended. read more

The drinks here are delicious and beautiful! The steak kabob is also excellent! The hummus wasn't the best hummus I've had but it was good. They hold on to their pita bread for dear life though, we were constantly having to ask for more pita with a large group. The ambiance is nice and service was amazing overall! read more

The Olive Restobar - Tamarind margarita - Mediterranean Near Me - Downey, California

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Service by Britney was amazing! She comes off as a genuinely nice and happy person and made our first time experience wonderful. The ambiance was casual and the vibes were great. Everyone seemed to have a great time, and I see why the restaurant was fully packed. Beautiful restaurant inside and out. The food- I had the airline chicken piccata and I have been dying to try this for the longest. It was a 4/5 for me. Very good, but the mashed potatoes didn't have much flavor. My friend had the lentil soup. The soup came in a huge bowl and she said it was good but not something she would order again here because she has had better. She also had a lamb skewer with she said tastes great. The complimentary pita bread with sauce was ok, maybe because I'm used to thick pita bread? Thank you for the complimentary birthday dessert. To be honest, I'm not even sure what it was, but it was good! Would we come back? Yes! But next time I will definitely stick to the classic kabobs! read more

My husband and I went to The Olive Restobar last night around 7:40 PM and were seated at the last table before entering the back patio. Unfortunately, our experience was quite disappointing from start to finish. Service: It took our server quite a while to take our order, and after that, he never stopped by to check if we needed anything else. When my husband finished his water, we had to flag down a busboy because our server was nowhere to be found. Food Ordered: Hummus (half regular / half spicy) - $13 Only came with one piece of cold pita bread. We asked for more, but it took nearly 30 minutes to get a second piece. King's Kabob - $55 The dish was okay but nothing special. We've definitely had better. Beef Shawarma (à la carte) - $11 Not served on a skewer and tasted rubbery, like it had been sitting out too long. We had high hopes because the place looks nice, but the service was slow and inattentive, and the food didn't live up to the price or presentation. Sadly, we left disappointed. read more

Good food calamari and Mediterranean salad Atmosphere music was not loud Good service by Evan read more

A good Mediterranean restaurant in a busy plaza! The restaurant is located in a very busy plaza in Downey, surrounded by other restaurants, a gym and a movie theater, you already know this place is going to be busy on the weekend. My girlfriend and I chose to go here yesterday for lunch and finding parking was a little difficult. Luckily, I found a spot a short walk away by Lazy Dog. We walked to the restaurant and noticed the ample amount of outdoor and indoor seating. The interior has nice décor, it's a vibe here. We got seated outside immediately when we arrived. It was shaded and there was a slight breeze, it was nice. We ordered the following: King & Queen, Salmon Ceviche, Texas Tiki, and a Downey Style Michelada. It wasn't long before received our drinks and our food. Here's how it all was: - King & Queen: A ribeye steak & a chicken steak kabob hanging over a mountain of fresh cut garlic fries, grilled tomatoes, jalapeno, and chimichurri. I requested medium rare but the meat came out more medium. Still, the meat was juicy and tasted good with the seasoning they had on it. The chicken was good and wasn't dry. The fries were definitely fresh cut, and the texture somewhat reminded me of In-N-Out fries. I liked them also. - Salmon Ceviche: Marinated ceviche style salmon, pico de gallo, chipotle chilies, lime, and pita chips. We ordered this because it was different than the usual ceviche. It was good and honestly, the pita chips is what made it and I wish it came with more. - Texas Tiki: Garrison Brothers honey infused bourbon, hibiscus, pineapple, coconut, lime, and heavy cream. Think pina colada, because that's what it tasted like. It came out in a cute tiki glass. It was good! - Downey Style Michelada (not pictured): House michi mix, fresh lime, and Negra Modelo. This was my girlfriend's drink and it definitely was a little spicy. Micheladas aren't my thing but she said it was good. Service wasn't bad. Our server (I think his name was CJ?) forgot to get a straw for my girlfriend's drink and also forgot to bring us bread. He mentioned the bread in the beginning, then mentioned it two more times when he came to check on us but it never came out. A party that arrived much later than us got 3 orders of bread while we received nothing. Parking, as mentioned earlier, was a pain due to how busy it was in the plaza. I would love to come back and try other items on the menu, so many things sounded good but it was hard to pick! read more

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Service is great and so is the food and its presentation. The restaurant has folding doors all around so it offers a nice al fresco dining environment. The place is trendy and likely popular with the social media community; we felt rushed as the tables needed to be turned to the next group on the waiting list. read more

I'll definitely be going back for seconds! The food was tasty and drinks refreshing. Had a small group gathering here for dinner without in doubt maybe not the best place for business dinner as it does get pretty loud. read more

Perfect lunch spot .. super busy on a Tuesday @ noon!! Popular spot with great food , vibes , and service! Will definitely come again read more

The Olive Restobar - Exactly what I was craving for lunch chicken Shawarma plate - Mediterranean Near Me - Downey, California

First and foremost our server was absolutely amazing and went above and beyond for us. Not only did we feel welcomed but our food was absolutely delicious as well. It was nice to try something new and it didn't disappoint. 10/10 Also not to mention the atmosphere was beautiful, love the decorations. read more

The Olive Restobar - Mediterranean Near Me - Downey, California

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Excellent experience. Food was great and I appreciate that lamb is on the menu. Our server was Juan and he was informative and helpful.

Came for dinner and tried a little bit of everything and every dish was a hit! We started off with the falafel and salmon ceviche. The falafel was so hot and had the perfect crispness. I was sad it only came with 4 because I could have eaten double the amount. The salmon ceviche was so fresh and flavorful, loved the freshly fried pita chips it came with. We shared the King & Queen kababs (ribeye and chicken) and they were SO good. We ordered the ribeye medium rare and it came out medium but was still dripping with juice. I love that it comes vertically hanging over a massive place of garlic fries - super addicting! They have a great happy hour menu Monday - Friday from 3-7pm. Be sure to make a reservation cause it was poppin even on a Monday evening! They have a large patio seating area perfect for summer nights and a lot of TVs so you can come and catch your favorite game. Shout out to the manager Tony and our waiter Evan, both were so nice and helpful with the menu and recommendations. Can't wait to go visit again! read more

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The olive is definitely a go to spot for date night, girls night or family night. I came on a bust Friday night. My wait time was 10 minutes. Not bad at all. Host are very lovely's. Even when busy the service is good. I mainly go for thier appetizers & cocktails. A favorite is the sweet & spicy shrimp. The flavor is tangy sweet with a kick of jalapeño spice. Another go to will be thier buttermilk calamari, when you add lemon and dip in the sauce it's so good! I really enjoy thier watermelon martini. I love that it's family friendly and they have space for strollers. Overall experience, 9/10 read more

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Food was good and bountiful. Service was friendly but slow. Had a live band which was a nice surprise. You know what else was a surprise, the 3.9% credit card fee!!!! You are faulting your customers for paying you with their credit card because you don't want to pay for the fee yourself. As a small business owner myself, that is the price of doing business. Oh and by the way, it's illegal because you didn't state that cash IS DISCOUNTED. read more

The Olive Restobar - Mediterranean Near Me - Downey, California

Food was DELICIOUS! Very fresh and service was great ! Our server Juan was very knowledgeable and made sure our experience was great! My picky toddler loved her healthy kids meal! Great ambiance. Definitely going back soon! Ordered king kabob 22oz of rib eye steak and fries ! Feeds two was tender and delicious! Also ordered the shrimp pesto penne ! So yummy and not too oily like other pestos ! Appetizers were out quick and fresh! Had salmon ceviche and buttermilk calamari both 10/10.for dessert had pistachio cheesecake and coppa chocolate both 10/10! Overall 10/10 ! read more

I went to lunch this Saturday. I got a nice little table. The manager took my order quite a friendly person. This is a busy place. Everybody's got a job and they're all doing it. Well, I order fried cauliflower as an appetizer I enjoyed it. I liked that is was light, I would have liked some hot sauce with it. and the Napa salad with salmon. I ended up drinking 2 1/2 beers I also ordered bread pudding for dessert it is Very good. I love how the place is wide open and airy! This definitely a not so secret place! read more

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Came here for a date night & everything we ordered from appetizers, entrees, DRINKS, & DESSERTS were unexpectedly delicious! Kenneth was our server & he just recommended everything for us which did not disappoint! Will most definitely be coming back with family & friends! read more

The Olive Restobar - Pistachio martini & specialty tequila drink - Mediterranean Near Me - Downey, California

Olive Restobar is truly a standout in Downey's dining scene! We have been coming with our family and friends and at moment we walked in, we were greeted with a warm, welcoming that immediately made us feel like part of the family. The Restaurant is the perfect balance between modern elegance and cozy charm, we love to come because is a great spot for anything from a casual family dinner to a special celebration. The food is nothing short of exceptional. Every dish we tried was delicious y beautifully served . You can tell the owners take good care of the food they serve and you can tell the kitchen takes pride in every plate they serve. They offer an outstanding service. The staff is attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable. Carlos the manager is always very responsive and friendly that makes you feel like family. Every server that we have had has been always patient, helpful. You can tell they genuinely care about their guests' experience. You"ll never get disappointed about these restaurant. read more

The Olive Restobar - Family dinner at the Olive Garden - Mediterranean Near Me - Downey, California

I had a great dining experience with my family for my niece Birthday for Sunday Brunch. The waiter Kenneth was super amazing attentive and I can tell his superb Customer service was truly from within and natural. The food and mimosas were on point the hibiscus and mango flavors were so good! Especially when you mix it together (Thank me later) We will for sure be back and recommend this restaurant to others. read more

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My fave type of food. Everything is always sooo delicious. Service is always great. The only improvement needs to be keeping up with restrooms. read more

The Olive Restobar - 2 The Olive Kabob Platter I switch my rice for spicy potatoes - Mediterranean Near Me - Downey, California

This is the best Mediterranean restaurant in Downey! Love that they make everything from scratch and they proudly use premium quality ingredients. Their kebabs were one of the best ones that I've tried! I was obsessed with their grilled salmon, I really love how it was marinated and very well-seasoned. It was so tender and bursting with flavors. I also ordered their Hot Mezz platter which consists a variety of their appetizers, such as dolma and falafel. This is also great for sharing. I love that their Chicken Piccata platter comes with irresistibly delicious lemon caper sauce. I love how tender, sour, and salty it was. Sooo delicious combined with their rice! We had some Fresh Pineapple and Watermelon coolers, which were so refreshing and satisfying to drink after indulging in all their tasty dishes. I highly recommend this spot if you want a tasty, yet guilt-free meal. The staff here were friendly and provided excellent service. read more

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I came here for my birthday outing this year & it was the perfect choice. Everything about this place was absolutely fabulous! The ambiance was amazing. From the moment we arrived we were greeted by the very kind hostess & manager who were both so kind enough & seated us in the section of our choice in the beautifulll patio area. We were then greeted by our amazing, charming, and very attentive waiter, Kenneth. He was patient, offered great suggestions and guidance on the menu, took great care of us for our whole visit & kept those mimosas coming!! The food was delectable by the way. The salmon & shrimp skewers was so well seasoned & juicy they darn near fell off the skewer!! #Tendernism. 10/10 recommend! read more

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Amazing food!! The hummus is my personal favorite! Their spicy mango margarita is so good! A must try spot! And thank you to Evan and Oscar for the great service! read more

The Olive Restobar - Amazing food! Their hummus is my personal favorite, and the Spicy Mango Margarita is simply delicious! A huge thank you to Evan and oscar! - Mediterranean Near Me - Downey, California

I'm extremely disappointed with our recent visit. My sister later realized the staff more than doubled the tip without authorization. She has called several times and was promised a callback, but no one responded. What's more concerning is that my friend had a similar experience here before, with the same server/manager? We were cautious and still had this happen. I used to enjoy this place, which makes this even more upsetting. Altering a tip and ignoring follow-ups is unacceptable. Please be careful dining here. read more

Bryan from one12cafe told us to check this place out. I decided to bring my family to celebrate my mom's promotion and hard work. Dinner here was absolutely amazing. Service was beyond what I expected. The food was amazing. I forgot to take a before and after picture of our plates but our plates were clean! The chicken picatta was nice and juicy and the flavor was impeccable! I will be coming back to try other items on the menu because I know it will not disappoint! read more

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The food was delicious and reasonably priced, the drinks were a little pricey. The service was great, JJ was our server was very attentive. Also, if paying with a credit card, they will charge you the service fee they get charged which is 4% so cash is a better option. They did waive the fee because we questioned it and weren't aware of their policy. Overall, we were happy with the restaurant. read more

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