Love this place. Great food and atmosphere. Great service and beer selection. Highly recommend.

The various burger offerings at The Wren seem to be constantly highlighted on Instagram, so it was just a matter of time before I found myself sitting down for a meal. (Ironically, I didn't even order a burger.) We arrived just before noon on a Saturday and the place was already bustling. After sitting down at one of the last free tables, I perused the menu and quickly decided to order the Brisket Hash ("shredded beef brisket, potato, onion, and seasonal vegetables. Served with warm cornbread & two sunny side up eggs"). It's a good dish, although it saddens me to say that it was not served hot. It was barely room temperature when I received it, and this continues to be one of my biggest pet peeves at restaurants. (Seriously, how difficult is it to serve a hot meal hot?) Anyway, the food is otherwise very tasty. The hash is quite flavorful and packed with tasty elements, although the beef brisket itself was a little on the sparse side. (I quite enjoyed the innovation of using french fries in place of potatoes, which gave the whole thing a kind of poutine-like feel.) The cornbread is decent, especially for Toronto. (I don't think I've ever had cornbread in the city that even comes close to the stuff you get in the States.) I should also mention that the service was fairly subpar, as my dining companion's water glass sat empty for more than half the meal. read more

Absolute best burgers on the strip. Along with a great selection of bears on tap. Cant go wrong at this place.

Nice place for a beer. Absolutely rammed with patrons last Sunday afternoon. All the food coming out of the kitchen looked great. I had a Belgian Brasserie style beee that was featured. It was quite good. Service was also quite attentive. I hope to go back and try to food. read more

This is a great restaurant in the east end. It's been awhile since my last visit but the food always delivered every time I've been. Fresh ingredients, amazing prices and burgers that will fill you up. read more

The Wren - Uncle buck burger - Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I love the environment here. It's a small place that feels like a pub, but at the same time it also feels like a hip restaurant. We sat at the bar for brunch. The service was great, and the food was amazing. I got the hash with the corn bread, it's probably one of the best hash I've ever ordered for brunch (but maybe I'm biased because I'm a sucker for corn bread). I met my college roommate here for brunch; I haven't seen her for 3 years, so we stayed there for a while...the bartender did not get annoyed with us even though there was a wait for tables. I used to serve tables before law school, so trust me when I say that this is everything. There are bar stools by the window as well, so as someone who often eats alone, I really appreciate the set up here. read more

The Wren - Brunch Hash - Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I have been here before for dinner and today I went back for brunch. The brunch ends at 3pm and we went in just in time before they changed to dinner menu. The food is good but for those who do not drink, they have a very limited drinks menu, just OJ and the usual coffee and tea. The tea options are also extremely limited and they are Lipton. We had the wren burger, eggs Benedict with pulled pork and peameal bacon sandwich. They were all good but my favourite was the eggs Benedict which came with salad and fries. I loved the hollandaise sauce! My only complaints are the service and the fact that they didn't have that many non-alcoholic drinks for brunch. Otherwise, a great place for brunch and a few beers for dinner. read more

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We came here for a late Sunday morning brunch. At 1pm, the restaurant was packed! I had already eaten breakfast, so I opted for the Smash burger with fries. The burger was good, juicy with just enough char on the patties. The fries were delicious, don't ever pass them up for a salad! The service brought the rating down significantly here. Though the servers are kind, they do not check in with tables after receiving their food or to top up drinks. We spent 5 minutes trying to wave down a server for some water, and another 10 to ask for our bill. A little disappointing. read more

Great spot on the Danforth. Take the word pub lightly, because their food is definitely more elevated and elegant than your average pub/bar. Had brunch here. The vibe is relaxed and laid-back. Food wise: Everything we had was fresh, and delicious. I'm always on an endless quest for the best breakfast burrito in town, and theirs is definitely a top contender! Great flavours and spice level. Service: friendly and courteous. Would definitely return to try other dishes, for brunch or dinner! read more

The Wren - Set up for brunch - Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I've been here many times and had their takeaway several times during the pandemic as well. Food is very good - I typically get tempted in by the absolutely always great daily specials but the regular menu is good too. Lots of very good Ontario craft beers on tap on a rotating basis. Service is always very good. It does fill up so get there early or be prepared to wait, usually not too long. It's a craft beer bar with absolute A+ food, that's a winner. read more

My nephew suggested I see this new happening place called "The Wren" and what a nice treat. Über-fun joint and the service is really good. We had the brisket, wren salad, sausage, and loved the food! Exceptional chicken wings too, mmmm! Didn't try the beer but tons to choose from! Good luck, highly recommended place to visit on the Danforth. read more

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Great little place... busy but line up moves fast for a table. Food... what can I say, this is the way breakfast should be "it was great... I had the eggs with brisket hash... The eggs Benedict was great ... Next visit we will try the burgers ... Enjoy read more

The Wren - Beef Brisket hash - Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Kitchen closed so early on a Saturday?! We were at The Wren around 10:30 ish and was advised that we can only drink our beers but unable to order any food. The saving grace though was a good selection of local craft beers for $5 a pint! Service was excellent but sadly I could not drink more on my empty stomach... My Drinking Buddy though down 3 pints of Side Launch Wheat in 30 minute. Will definitely be back for more beers when I am in the area, especially during special event they hosts and of course to try out their food! read more

Tasty Mexican inspired food. Good craft beer selection. Bustling atmosphere. I had been to The Wren before for wings and beer, and it was a fine time. Tonight I went back for a proper meal, and I quite enjoyed it. I got the Turkey Sausage with Cheddar Jalapeño Polenta, and my girlfriend got the Pulled Pork Chimichanga. Both tasted great, and had a lot of flavour. Both dishes had some delicious spiced black beans, which had just the write amount of liquid. The black beans paired perfectly with the cheesy polenta, and both elements really anchored the dish. It was complimented by some pretty spicy Turkey sausage, some crispy tortillas for crunch, and some salsa fresca (tomato, onion, cilantro, etc) and microgreens for freshness. My brother had the Shrimp and Haddock Cakes which he thought was okay. The space is fun and contains a lot of rustic charm with the walls and the chandlers containing a lot of old character. Its very inviting and so was the staff. It was pretty busy on a Saturday night, so you might want to try more off hours. Also they do a burger special on Mondays. Though their Mexican style food is good enough that I'm unsure if I'd want to order a burger. read more

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Came here on a whim after driving by the area. There was a lot of people and we wanted to check it out. We had to wait maybe 20 min to be seated (10pm on a Friday night) as there was a mix up with the seating. Ordered the "A Long December" cocktail which was good on a chilly day. The staff is very friendly and energetic. read more

The Wren - Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I went to the wren with a few friends after work. They have a great selection of craft beer, but unfortunately they only list their options on a board behind the bar, which can make things difficult when you're seated at a table. They really should have a beer menu at each of the tables. Their food menu is flimsy and simply a sheet of paper covered in plastic, which also seems to cheapen the experience. They really seem to have a vendetta against menus! Weird... I had the colonel mustard pulled pork sandwich and it was good enough, but nothing extraordinary. The fries were pretty tasty though. No one from my group loved their food, but no serious complaints to report. Just keep your expectations low. The server was pretty laid back and well informed and seemed like a pretty nice guy. He helped us pick out our beers. The atmosphere was nice with lots of wood, fun decor, and family friendly. There were kids in pyjamas running around, and they were pretty funny/entertaining - I think they might have been one of the owner's brood. They have communal seating in the middle and separate booths and tables at the side, so you can engage with new people if you're in the mood or keep to yourself if you prefer. I thought it was a bit overpriced and not exactly a place I'd go to on the regular, but fun enough to give a shot. They'll have to up their game once more competition sets up, but the area is still up and coming. read more

The Wren - Decor - Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Weird little place... Entering the place at about 3:50 on a Sunday afternoon my girlfriend and I were met with a blank stare from the barman before he coughed out a greeting that included the kitchen was closed from 3-4 but should be opening soon. We sat and waited on service hoping to at least have a drink while we waited on food... We waited and watched as the barman read the paper and completely ignored us. Finally we went to the bar and ordered for ourselves. At 4 I guess there was a shift change and a waitress came by to take our food order... Another deer in the headlights gaze... Figuring we weren't going to stay long we ordered some buffalo cauliflower to pick at while we finished our drinks... Arrived pretty quickly but mushy and overcooked. Great food pics on the Instagram page led me here but I won't be coming back . read more

The Wren - Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

We were here for a quick dinner earlier this week. Although we were mercifully child-free, there were plenty of kids in the place and I would be 100% confident bringing them here for dinner (although I did not see any high chairs). We got the Uncle Buck burger and the falafel plate. The burger was above average: juicy and flavourful, and I enjoyed the onion ring on top. The bacon was woefully underdone and flabby however. The falafel plate was good as well, although the falafel balls could have been a bit hotter and crispier. The beer list is top notch. Contrary to many other comments, the service we received was excellent. The Wren is exactly what you would want out of a solid neighborhood spot and I would definitely come back again. read more

So you know when you move to a new neighborhood and you accidentally on purpose find yourself at a local spot every night for a week? Well this was that place. Get the burger. Get the empanada. You will dream of both forever and ever until you devour another. I promise. Oh and they have a supreme craft beer tap selection. It's a miracle I haven't moved right into their kitchen. COME HERE. read more

Come here all the time for brunch. I've never been disappointed. People say the service isn't good but I've never had an issue. The staff here are super personable and friendly. It's a busy spot for brunch, so go in with that expectation, but nothing less. The food is high quality, super tasty, and very creative. Unique Tex-mex brunch that sets the bar high for TO "brunch spots". I suggest the uncle buck burger, cotija crepe, or the polenta and sausage. Can't go wrong (a bit salty though)! Good bottomless coffee too. I'd love to come back for fried chicken sandwich week whenever that happens again! read more

I finally got to The Wren today for the first time. I had the onion soup burger and it was the best burger I've had in a very very long time. Super beef flavor and so juicy - and don't get me started on their their fries!! so crunchy! I will absolutely be craving this burger! read more

This place is truly a gem. A small place with excellent beer selection and delicious food. Location is away from the busier parts of the Danforth, but still easy to get to. The atmosphere is cozy, trendy with music at a good volume for easy conversation. Expect a 30-60 minute wait if you're visiting any any reasonably busy time as they don't do reservations. There's a fair bit of bar seating if you're able to snag that and are comfortable sitting there. Staff is extremely friendly and helpful. Recommend for sure, 10/10. read more

The vegan crunch wrap was so good. My gluten free partner has a couple options as well. Wish there was a gluten free bread or wrap option as well though. read more

Excellent local craft beer pub. Although the food menu is very limited, it covers a surprisingly wide variety of options. We ordered the fish tacos and smash burger and both were excellent when compared to your typical pub chain restaurants. The atmosphere inside was cozy and intimate, unlike a typical bar. Perhaps the loud ones were all sitting on the sidewalk patio. Table decor had a nice touch with empty whisky bottles. The staff were great and very friendly. As I approached the bar to see what crafts were available, the bartender immediately approached and asked what types of beer I usually enjoyed and through that, was able to recommend and pour me a couple of options to try before I ordered, which was a fantastic gesture. The beer was so good I ended up buying a 2-4 at the local brewery weeks later. Great date night location. read more

Come hungry my friend! Massive dripping burgers, big bossy empanadas - this is a haven for the thirsty and starving! Intimate, wood lined, skinny and loud. The kids loved it, the parents celebrated and the after work crowd rid themselves of the day. If you go here you are likely to never read this review because it feels like one of the anchors of the neighbourhood. Come and be a local. Raise a pint. Enjoy the Uncle Buck burger that would satisfy even John Candy and enjoy the great service. read more

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I wanted to really like The Wren, I really did. But I gotta say, in between the mouthwatering beer offerings, the much raved grub, and the beaten-to-death laminated food menu, service can be.. uh.. spotty. Always popular, always packed is a common theme for this Danforth diner since it opened. And it was even featured on "You Gotta Eat Here" on the Canadian Food Network. It's only now that I have gotten a chance to come and snag a seat and see for myself why I gotta eat here. But I gotta say, it seems the level of service afforded to you depends where you sit. Of course you are unmissable sitting at the bar. It's when you are at the front window when staff attention drops to nearly zero. Amongst the chaos of an average Friday evening, where people do queue up inside for an open table, they actually thought for more than 10 minutes I was waiting for other people, no wonder I was menu-less for so long! It wasn't just me struggling for a server--a couple beside me took a few tries to snag someone so they can get some food finally. Maybe they need to zone out their space, I dunno--several staff were playing host, it was all over the place. The 'Uncle Buck Burger' ($16) I settled for was stacked with a large beer battered onion ring, which had this interesting smoky caramel flavour to it. A bitty bit of Thousand Islands dressing added, it was not very effective. It was alright, not as mindexpanding as anticipated but bit of a beast to eat, and comes with some very crispy crisp fries. The Wren has a varied patron base of different age groups reflective of one big part of the Danforth community... and maybe a few greasy foodies thrown in there somewhere. They may have a reputation for interesting grilled comfort foods, but still needs to work on handling a busy night effectively, lest I feel like a true poltergeist. {TTC: around the corner from Greenwood subway station} read more

The owner or our Air B&B suggested this place and it was spot on. Folks were super friendly, great beer list to choose from, amazing service and the food was excellent. The smash burger was excellent and when the waitress offered malt vinegar for my fries I was in heaven! read more

The Wren - Jelly King sour IPA is delicious! - Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Fantastic gastropub. The beer selection is awesome. The ambiance is rustic and the place has such a charm. The burger is amazing. The barbeque cauliflower is tasty. Yes you heard it right. This is a lovely evening hangout. read more

Delicious! Got the vegan crunchwrapo supremo and would highly recommend whether you are vegan or not! Ate it with hot sauce and it was the perfect combination of flavours. Went with a party of 6 and everyone highly enjoyed their meal. Great service as well. Looking forward to going back. read more

Very disappointed with the interaction we had with the hostess. She was extremely unkind and unprofessional. We asked a simple question about sitting inside at the bar (which was empty) with a drink until our outside table was ready and even before finishing asking the hostess, she very rudely shook her head, rolled her eyes and stated flippantly "No! I am not moving any tables". Not only did we have this unfortunate interaction but another family ahead of us was also very disappointed with the service which led us all to eat elsewhere. We understood it was a busy afternoon but did not expect to be treated impolitely and didn't see the harm in sitting at the bar and providing them service by ordering a couple drinks/apps until our table was ready especially when one of us was pregnant and could not stand for long periods of time. read more

We went to The Wren earlier this week. The food was spectacular! I had the chicken sandwich and it was one of the best I've ever had. The chicken was moist and the flavours were nicely balanced. I'd love it if they had more alcohol free drink options. Please consider adding some alcohol free craft beers to your drink menu. There are lots of great options out there! Can't wait to go back again and try one of their delicious looking burgers. read more

I'm giving this place 4 stars overall, but for the neighbourhood its definitely a 5+! For months I have been waiting in anticipation for the opening of this place as I had been bemoaning the lack of nicer restaurant/bar options in the neighbourhood since moving there a couple of years ago. After what seemed like an eternity, The Wren finally opened and I went to check it out Saturday of opening week. We arrived around 9 PM and the place was busy (it appeared to have been busy all week which I was glad to see). The crowd looked young and hip and everyone seemed to be having a great night. The owners did a great job with the renovations in this space - a nice mix of reclaimed wood, subtle wallpaper, eclectic light fixtures and the coolest old Coca-Cola wall mural (that would have been an exterior building wall at some point, likely in the early 1900s) that they uncovered when doing the renovations and plan to seal and preserve. We waited at the bar for roughly 15 minutes for a table to open up, though it is possible to order food at the bar as well. They had a nice selection of local beers on tap, didn't take a close look at the wine selection. Service was super friendly, attentive and polite. The menu is not huge but has a good variety of options, with quite a few hearty sandwich selections. The PBLT (pork belly, lettuce and tomato) sandwich sounded delicious but was unfortunately sold out for the evening. My husband ordered the beef brisket sandwich with fries ($15), which tasted incredible. Tender, smokey and delicious. The locally sourced bread was a little too substantial, but when the owner Dennis stopped to chat with us and get our feedback on our experience that night (which I think is excellent and the sign of a business focused on succeeding) he noted that they're thinking of switching up the bread to a slightly lighter option. Not being a huge dinner sandwich fan myself, I ordered the pulled pork chimichanga ($15), which arrived golden and beautifully plated. The pulled pork filling was a tad sweeter than I was expecting (though not too sweet by any means) but given that it was pulled pork it made sense and I enjoyed it. Like, inhaled-the-entire-thing enjoyed it. :) The chimichanga was topped with this awesome, flavourful guacamole that I'm hoping is the same guac that can be ordered from the menu separately with chips. The black beans that came on the side were amazing. I was fully expecting to take a couple of bites of them and then ignore them, but they were so perfectly seasoned and not overcooked that I finished them all. Not realizing how huge the portions would be, we also ordered the quinoa salad, which consisted of seasoned quinoa with jicama, watercress, charred corn and chimichurri dressing. The salad was enormous. Definitely large enough for a meal for someone looking for a filling vegetarian option. Loved the freshness and crunch of the salad, though found it a touch heavy on the red onions and light on acidity in the dressing. The Wren is definitely a welcome addition to the changing landscape of businesses along the stretch of Danforth between Greenwood and Coxwell and I expect it will only get better with time. Overall a very positive dining experience and I will be back for sure (with friends!). read more

the reviews are true! this place has lovely atmosphere, beer, and food. first off i want to say what i was most impressed by: their fries! they were seasoned perfectly and i couldn't stop talking about them. i ordered the spicy chicken sandwich they were offering (it had a szechwan sauce) and it was so good! i typically order a spicy chicken sandwich if a place offers one and this is seriously good. it's crispy, crunchy, and had a standout sauce that i wish could have come separately too for the fries! my dad got the uncle buck burger which he said was great, especially for the price. the toppings really make it unique! he ordered the salad as a side which was tasty but you can tell how good the fries are by the fact he was stealing some of mine too! read more

Finding myself on a rarely made trip to the east end, I decided to make a stop in to the Wren as this place has been intriguing me for a while. One thing that was surprising on arrival is how small the room actually is. Pictures online make it seem bigger, so I was a bit surprised to arriving around 6pm and the place already being full with a waiting list for a table. Luckily there was room at the bar for me to saddle up alongside. This place was on my radar as it's been known for it's craft beer selection, and on that front it did not disappoint at all. They had about a dozen craft options including options from great Ontario brewers such as Indie Ale House, GLB, Bellwoods, Side Launch, and Redline to name a few. Beers range in 12, 14, or 16 oz pours depending on what you fancy. Foodwise, I ordered the Uncle Buck Burger which is their premium burger topped with a friend onion ring and some bacon and white cheddar cheese amongst other things. On first look, I thought this was going to be the best burger I've had in ages. It had plate appeal, juicy meat and some decent looking fries on the side. It was a good burger, but admittedly I'm not sure if it was the thousand island dressing (which I normally am down with), but something just seemed a bit off in its flavour. It was still enjoyable, but fell a bit short which is the sole reason I've got to stick with a 4 star review. But the place is quaint and cute and the service is friendly. I've also heard the fried chicken is crazy good, so I'm already looking for a good reason to come back to this side of town. read more

CALL FIRST!!!!!!!!! The best and only advice I can give you about this place because I didn't even get to try the food here. After I drove across the fucking city to eat at this place (which according to their Instagram looked like they had delicious food) THEY WERE CLOSED! For a private engagement. Nothing online, no warning, no notice until we got to the door. I was losing my fucking mind because driving in this shit hole is a nightmare. Really it's my fault. I saw the writing on the wall (literally as we arrived) but on their Instagram. "Closed for private party", "closed for work party", plus I had read some reviews that seemed like they were less than flattering about the service and the people who work or own the place. Do yourself a favour and go somewhere else but if you insist on eating here then call them first and save yourself some trouble. By the way after we went to Wvrst and it was amazing. Go there instead. read more

I've also been waiting patiently for The Wren to open. We went on Saturday (around same time as other reviewer Gita. see her review for some context). They've done an amazing job with the design and overall atmosphere. A mix of bar seating, booths, harvest tables, and a small "nook" at the back which offers a slightly more private area. Both interior and exterior decoration, fixtures, and lighting present a nice take on modern/rustic southwestern theme, and that theme is carried right through to the signage/menu and smaller elements. Always a good sign when this much effort has been put into creating a cohesive look and feel. The big question for us was whether or not the themes and quality would carry through to the food and service. I'm glad to say we were impressed with both. We had the Beef Brisket sandwich with fries and Fried Chicken sandwich - both were very tasty. Great selection of beers. Good music. Exceeded our expectations. We'll definitely be back, and hope The Wren is a sign of more good things happening along this stretch of the Danforth, which is badly in need of more good quality pubs and restaurants. read more

My husband is definitely in charge of brunch spots now. He found this spot for brunch since it was closeish to our day destination of Tommy Thompson Park. The space and decor is very cute and follows the trend of most restaurant in Toronto: lots of wood, whimsical nods to the rural life, mismatched service (as in plates and cutlery), communal tables (they have booths as well). The menu is fairly small, which I love! It makes it so much easier to order and you have a sense that the kitchen will put effort into each dish. Service was okay, not stellar but definitely not bad. We were taken care of just fine. We had the Hungry Wren Breakfast and the Jalapeno and Cheddar Polenta. GET THE POLENTA. I love polenta for breakfast and I thought I was the only one until I saw the menu. Man this was just a treat. Creamy, cheddar infused and jalapeno spiked polenta topped with a buttload of pulled pork and a perfectly poached egg. Unfortunately, the pulled pork was a bit too salty for me so more than half went to the man. The man enjoyed his Hungry Wren with a note that the sausage was the least interesting thing on the plate. I tried some of his baked beans and tea biscuits - yum! My few notes to the kitchen would be: less salt for the pulled pork and get rid of the tortilla chip garnish. Other than that, don't change a thing. Ever. Always keep the polenta on the menu. I will be back. read more

Oh man, where to start... it's hard to describe how awesome our brunch at the Wren was. The Wren burger was excellent, but pulled pork polenta was on another level. Service was fast and polite and the atmosphere is great. I live nowhere near this place but I want to go back as soon as possible read more

Two words: Real hollandaise. 4.5* More words: tasty taps and eats, served by genuinely nice people who rock out to wicked music. I've been four times and each time I've found something else to rave about. First it was the fried chicken and the music, then the brisket, the third-time the revamped beer menu and the last visit it was the hollandaise and the oatmeal stout. I want to keep raving about this place but, at the same time, I want everyone to stay away because it's getting too busy already. AND they know how to make a Caesar with some kick and flavour. read more

It's so great to see this stretch of the Danforth finally coming around. Only been waiting 16 years!! We may be over the hump on the hipster point of view, but we do like good food and good times as the lesser bars say. The order was: Vodka and soda with splash of Cranberry $9 One craft beer (forget name) $8 Chimichanga (sp) $15 Burger $14 The renos look great i know they worked very hard on making this a hip place to go and I will thank them for taking on the venture in the not so nice side of the Danny. It was busy for a Friday night around 6pm and we decided to sit on the Bar, the communal table is not for me, ok in chinatown on a one off, but if your into talking to strangers and meeting new neighbours it works. it was working many people sitting there! The burger was just ok, it has filler. Too much breadcrumbs and garlic. I prefer Burgs that are just the real deal only meat. The chimichanga could be described as deep fried burrito because that's what they are, the flavour was nice if your into tex mex, I really enjoyed it. The fresh guac ontop and the salsa wasn't overpowering. The pulled pork was not dry but not a stand out it could have been chicken. That being said i would order this again. The price point is very reasonable on all their menu items. Many local families and neighbours. This is early days for them, and they are busy and committed to making our neighbourhood more enjoyable within walking distance. I will definitely go back. note: i wish the owners were their asking how everything was? the bar staff were very friendly and accommodating. Service was above good. note 2: my kids are teenagers now but as another reviewer pointed out it's nice to see kids in a resto in this stretch, her idea of a kids menu before 8pm is excellent. read more